
.-^ ^'\ 



.■^' 






.Oo, 






\x^^" 






'^■"^ ■^.^'^^^V.^^'V,^^ 



,,,^x^' .^?H« : '^^^^ 



V ""-^^ 



V'<^^ 



■y^\^ -V 










,0o 






'■ " ' ^^^ , 







c- V 



- oV 









^r. ,A^ 



^ 



»0 o 







/■/ 






'^ , 



V 



%, ,<;^ -^ ^^ ^> '\ - 













^i-*^' 






Z'- 











X^'^r 


-^ " A 




■^^...o*^ 



\ 



2J^ 

^73 




GEOFFREY CHAUCER. 



THE 



\" 



CANTERBURY TALES 

i 

1 

( 

BY 

GEOFFREY CHAUCER 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 



THOMAS R. LOUNSBURY 

{ 

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERAl LtRE IN YALE UNIVERSITY 



NEW YORK 

THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 



THE LIBRARY OF 


CONGRESS. 


Two Copie* 


Rooflivod 


JUL 24 


1903 


Copyright 

cUss^ a. 


Entry 


-.■^, Ct) 


XXcNo. 


t=> 14 n 


n ^ 


mn,^^ 1 






Co 
By TH' 



) AND 1903, 

.OWELL & CO. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introduction ^ vii 

The Canterbury Tales : — 

Group A. The Prologue . i 

•^'he Knightes Tale , ... 12 

The Miller's Prologue 41 

The Milleres Tale 42 

The Reeve's Prologue 5' 

The Reves Tale $2 

The Cook's Prologue 5^ 

The Cokes Tale 59 

Group B. Introduction to the Man of Law's Prologue .... 60 

The Prologe of the Mannes Tale of Lawe 61 

The Tale of the Man of Lawe 62 

The Shipman's Prologue 77 

The Shipmannes Tale 77 

The Prioress's Prologue 83 

The Prioresses Tale 84 

Prologue to Sir Thopas 87 

Sir Thopas 88 

Prologue to Melibeus 9^ 

The Tale of Melibeus 9^ 

The Monk's Prologue 118 

The Monkes Tale 120 

The Prologue of the Nonne Prestes Tale 131 

The Nonne Preestes Tale '32 

Epilogue to the Nonne Preestes Tale 141 

Group C. The Phisiciens Tale . 141 

Words of the Host 145 

The Prologue of the Pardoners Tale 146 

The Pardoners Tale 148 

V 



CONTENTS. 



page; 

Group D. The Wife of Bath's Prologue 155 

The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe i66( 

The Friar's Prologue 171 

The Freres Tale 172 

The Somnour's Prologue . . -177 

The Somnours Tale 178 

Group E. The Clerk's Prologue 186 

The Clerkes Tale 187 

The Merchant's Prologue 203 ; 

The Marchantes Tale 204 

Epilogue to the Marchantes Tale 219 

Group ¥. The Squieres Tale 219 

The Franklin's Prologue 228 

The Frankeleyns Tale 229 

Group G. The Seconde Nonnes Tale 241 

The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue ....... 249 

The Chanouns Yemannes Tale 251 

Group H. The Manciple's Prologue 262 

The Maunciples Tale 263 

Group I. The Parson's Prologue 267 

The Persones Tale 268 

Appendix to Group A : — 

The Tale of Gamelyn 314 

Glossarial Index 331 



INTRODUCTION. 



3>»JC 



English literature, in the strict sense of the word, dates its beginning from the 
latter half of the fourteenth century. Not but an English literature had existed long 
previous to that period. Furthermore, it reckoned among its possessions works of 
value, and a few which in the opinion of some display genius. But though the name 
was the same, the thing was essentially different. A special course of study is 
required for any comprehension whatever of the productions of that earliest literature; 
and for the easy understanding of those written even but a half century or so before 
the period indicated, a mastery of many peculiar syntactical constructions is demanded, 
and an acquaintance with a vocabulary differing in a large number of words from that 
now in use. 

But by the middle of the fourteenth century this state of things can hardly be said 
to exist any longer for us. Everything by that time had become ripe for the creation 
of a literature of a far higher type than had yet been produced. Furthermore, condi- 
tions prevailed which, though their results could not then be foreseen, were almost cer- 
tain to render the literature thus created comparatively easy of comprehension to the 
modern reader. The Teutonic and Romanic elements that form the groundwork of 
our present vocabulary had at last become completely fused. Of the various dialects 
prevailing, the one spoken in the vicinity of the capital had gradually lifted itself up 
to a preeminence it was never afterward to lose. In this parent of the present liter- 
ary speech, writers found for the first time at their command a widely accepted and 
comparatively flexible instrument of expression. As a consequence, the literature 
then produced fixed definitely for all time the main lines upon which both the 
grammar and the vocabulary of the English speech were to develop. The result is 
that it now presents few difficulties for its full comprehension and appreciation that 
are not easily surmounted. The most effective deterrent to its wide study is one 
formidable only in appearance. This is the unfamiliar way in which its words are 
spelled ; for orthography then sought to represent pronunciation, and had not in 
consequence crystallized into fixed forms with constant disregard of any special value 
to be attached to the signs by which sounds are denoted. 

Of the creators of this literature — Wycliffe, Langland, Chaucer, and Gower — 
Chaucer was altogether the greatest as a man of letters. This is no mere opinion of 
the present time; there has never been a period since he flourished in which it has 
not been fully conceded. In his own day, his fame swept beyond the narrow limits of 
country and became known to the outside world. At home his reputation was firmly 



INTRODUCTION. 



established, and seems to have been established early. All the references to him by 
his contemporaries and immediate successors bear witness to his universally recognized 
position as the greatest of English poets, though we are not left by him to doubt that 
he had even thf[:> met detractors. Still the general feeling of the men of his time is 
expressed by his disciple Occleve, who terms him — 

" The firste finder i of our fair language." 

Yet not a single incident of his life has come down to us from the men who admired 
his personality, who enrolled themselves as his disciples, and who celebrated his 
praises. With the exception of a few slight references to himself in his writings, all 
tl.e knowledge we possess of the events of his career is due to the mention made of 
him in official documents of various kinds and of different degrees of importance. In 
these it is taken for granted that whenever Geoffrey Chaucer is spoken of, it is the 
poet who is meant, and not another person of the same name. The assumption 
almost approaches absolute certainty; it does not quite attain to it. In those days it 
is clear that there were numerous Chaucers. Still, no one has yet risen to dispute his 
being the very person spoken of in these official papers. From these documents we 
discover that Chaucer, besides being a poet, was also a man of affairs. He was a 
soldier, a negotiator, a diplomatist. He was early employed in the personal service 
of the king. He held various positions in the civil service. It was a consequence 
that his name should appear frequently in the records. It is upon them, and the 
references to him in documents covering transactions in which he bore a part, that 
the story of his life, so far as it exists for us at all, has been mainly built. It was by 
them also that the series of fictitious events, which for so long a time did duty as the 
biography of the poet, had their impossibility as well as their absurdity exposed. 

The exact date of Chaucer's birth we do not know. The most that can be said is 
that it must have been somewhere in the early years of the reign of Edward III. 
(1327-77). The place of his birth was in all probability London. His father, John 
Chaucer, was a vintner of that city, and there is evidence to indicate that he was to 
some extent connected with the court. In a deed dated June 19, 1380, the poet 
released his right to his father's former house, which is described as being in Thames 
Street. The spot, however unsuitable for a dwelling-place now, was then in the very 
heart of urban life, and in that very neighborhood it is reasonable to suppose that 
Chaucer's earliest years were spent. 

The first positive information we have, however, about the poet himself, belongs to 
1356. In that year we find him attached to the household of Lionel, Duke of 
Clarence, the third son of Edward III. He is there in the service of the wife of that 
prince, but in what position we do not know. It may have been that of a page. He 
naturally was in attendance upon his mistress during her various journeyings ; but 
most of her time was passed at her residence in Hatfield, Yorkshire. Chaucer next 
appears as having joined the army of Edward III. in his last invasion of France. 
This expedition was undertaken in the autumn of 1359, and continued until the peace 
of Bretigny, concluded in May, 1360. During this campaign he was captured some- 
where and somehow — we have no knowledge beyond the bare fact. It took place, 

1 Poet. 



INTRODUCTION. 



however, before the ist of March, 1360 ; for on that date the records show that the 
King personally contributed sixteen pounds toward his ransom. 

From the last-mentioned date Chaucer drops entirely out of our knowledge till 
June, 1367, when he is mentioned as one of the valets of the King's . amber. In the 
document stating this fact he is granted a pension — the first of several he received-^ 
for services already rendered or to be rendered. It is a natural inference from the 
language employed, that during these years of which no record exists he was in some 
situation about the person of Edward III. After this time his name occurs with con- 
siderable frequency in the rolls, often connected with duties to which he was assigned. 
His services were varied ; in some instances certainly they were of importance. From 
1370 to 1380 he was sent several times abroad to share in the conduct of negotiation,^. 
These missions led him to Flanders, to France, and to Italy. The subjects were 
diverse. One of the negotiations in which he was concerned was in reference to the 
selection of an English port for a Genoese commercial establishment ; another was 
concerning the marriage of the young monarch of England with the daughter of the 
King of France. It is on his first journey to Italy of which we have any record — the 
mission of 1372-73 to Genoa and Florence — that everybody hopes and some succeed 
in having an undoubting belief that Chaucer visited Petrarch at Padua, and there 
heard from him the story of Griselda, which the Clerk of Oxford in "The Canterbury 
Tales " states that he learned from the Italian poet. Faith in this meeting has been 
rendered more difficult to accept, however, l3y the recently discovered fact that 
Chaucer was absent on this mission less than six months, instead of the eleven months 
with which he previously had been credited. 

But Chaucer's activity was not confined to foreign missions or to diplomacy ; he 
was as constantly employed in the civil service. In 1374 he was made controller of 
the great customs — that is, of wool, skins, and leather — of the port of London. In 
1382 he received also the post at the same port of controller of the petty customs, 
that is, of wines, candles, and other articles. The regulations of this office required 
him to write the records with his own hand ; and it is this to which Chaucer is sup- 
posed to refer in the statement he makes about his official duties in "The IIoug of 
Fame." In this poem the messenger of Jupiter tells him that though he has done so 
much in the service of the God of Love, yet he has never received for it any com- 
pensation. He then goes onto add the following lines, which give a graphic picture 
of the poet and of his studious life : — 

" ' Wherfor, as I seyde, y-wis, 
lupiter considereth this, 
And also, beau sir, other thinges; 
That is, that thou hast no tydinges 
Of Loves folk, if they be glade, 
Ne of noght elles that god made ; 
And noght only fro fer contree 
That ther no tyding comth to thee, 
But of thy verray neyghebores. 
That dwellen almost at thy dores, 
Thou herest neither that ne this; 
For whan thy labour doon al is, 



INTRODUCTION. 



And hast y-maad thy rekeninges, 
In stede of reste and newe thinges, 
Thou gost hoom to thy hous anoon; 
And, also domb as any stoon, 
, . Thou sittest at another boke, 

Til fully daswed is thy loke, 
And livest thus as an hermyte, 
Although thyn abstinence is lyte.' " 

The Hous of Fame, 11. 641-660. 

In 1386 Chaucer was elected to Parliament as knight of the shire for the county of 
Kent. In that same year he lost or gave up both his positions in the customs. The 
cause we do not know. It may have been due to mismanagement on his own part; it is 
far more likely that he fell a victim to one of the fierce factional disputes that were going 
on during the minority of Richard II. At any rate, from this time, he disappears for 
two years from our knowledge. But in 1389 he is mentioned as having been appointed 
clerk of the King's works at Westminster and various other places ; in 1390 clerk of 
the works for St. George's chapel at Windsor. Both of these positions he held until 
the middle of 139 1. In this last year he was made one of the commissioners to 
repair the roadway along the Thames, and at about the same time was appointed for- 
ester of North Petherton Park in Somerset, a post which he held till his death. After 
1386 he seems at times to have been in pecuniary difficulties. To what cause they 
were owing, or how severe they were, it is the emptiest of speculations to form any 
conjectures in the obscurity that envelops this portion of his life. Whatever may have 
been his situation, on the accession of Henry IV. in September, 1399, his fortunes 
revived. The father of that monarch was John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward 
III. That nobleman had pretty certainly been from the outset the patron of Chaucer; 
it is possible — as the evidence fails on one side, it cannot be regarded as proved — 
that by his marriage with Katharine Swynford he became the poet's brother-in-law. 
Whatever may have been the relationship, if any at all, it is a.fact that one of the very 
first things the new king did was to confer upon Chaucer an additional pension. But 
the poet did not live long to enjoy the favor of the monarch. On the 24th of Decem- 
ber, 1399, he leased for fifty-three years, or during the term of his life, a tenement in 
the garden of St. Mary's Chapel, Westminster. But after the 5th of June, 1400, his 
name appears no longer on any rolls. There is accordingly no reason to question the 
acCaiacy of the inscription on his tombstone which represents him as having died 
October 25, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was the first, and still 
remains perhaps the greatest, of the English poets whose bones have there found their 
last resting-place. 

This comprises all the facts of importance we know of Chaucer's life. Before leav- 
ing this branch of the subject, however, it may be well to say that many fuller details 
about his career can be found in all older accounts of the poet, and in spite of the 
repeated exposure of their falsity still crop up occasionally in modern books of refer- 
ence. Some are objectionable only upon the ground of being untrue. Of these are 
such statements as that he was born in 1328 ; that he was a student of Oxford, to 
which Cambridge is sometimes added ; that he was created poet-laureate ; and that 
he was knighted. But others are objectionable not only on the ground of being false, 



INTRODUCTION. 



but of being slanderous besides. Of these the most offensive is the widely circulated 
and circumstantial story that he was concerned in thq conflict that went on in 1382 
between the city of London and the court in regard to the election of John of North- 
ampton to the mayoralty ; that in consequence of his participation in this contest 
he was compelled to seek refuge in the island of Zealand ; that there he remained for 
some time, but on his return to England was arrested and thrown into the Tower ; 
and that after having been imprisoned for two or three years, he was released at last 
on the condition of betraying his associates, which he accordingly did. All these 
details are fictitious. They were made up from inferences drawn from obscure pas- 
sages in a prose work entitled " The Testament of Love." This was once attributed 
to the poet, but is now known not to have been written by him. Even had it been 
his, the statements derived from it and applied to the life of the poet would have been 
entirely unwarranted, as they come into constant conflict with the official records. 
Not being his, this piece of spurious biography has the additional discredit of con- 
stituting an unnecessary libel upon his character. 

From Chaucer the man, and the man of affairs, we proceed now to the considera- 
tion of Chaucer the writer. He has left behind a body of verse consisting of more 
than thirty-two thousand lines, and a smaller but still far from inconsiderable quantity 
of prose. The latter consists mainly if not wholly of translations — one a version of 
that favorite work of the Middle Ages, the treatise of Boeuhius on the "Consolation of 
Philosophy "; another the tale of Melibeus in " The Canterbury Tales," which is taken 
directly from the French ; thirdly, "The Persones Tale," derived probably from the 
same quarter, though its original has not as yet been discovered with certainty ; and, 
fourthly, an unfinished treatise on the Astrolabe, undertaken for the instruction of his 
son Lewis. The prose of any literature always lags behind, and sometimes centuries 
behind, its poetry. It is therefore not surprising to find Chaucer displaying in the 
former comparatively little of the peculiar excellence which distinguishes his verse. 
In the latter but little room is found for hostile criticism. In the more than thirty 
thousand lines of which it is composed there occur, of course, inferior passages, and 
some positively M'eak; but taking it all in all, there is but little in it, considered as a 
whole, which the lover of literature as literature finds it advisable or necessary to skip. 
As Southey remarked, Chaucer, with the exception of Shakespeare, is the most vari- 
ous of all English authors. He appeals to the most diversified tastes. He wrote love 
poems, religious poems, allegorical poems, occasional poems, tales of common life, tales 
of chivalry. His range is so wide that any limited selection from his works ,.... at 
best give but an inadequate idea of the variety and extent of his powers. 

The canon of Chaucer's writings has now been settled with a reasonable degree of 
certainty. For a long time the fashion existed of imputing to him the composition of 
any English poem of the century following his death, which was floating about with- 
out having attached to it the name of any author. The consequence is that the older 
editions contain a mass of matter which it would have been distinctly discreditable 
for any one to have produced, let alone a great poet. This has now been gradually 
dropped, much to the advantage of Chaucer's reputation, though modern scholarship 
also refuses to admit the production by him of two or three pieces, such as " The Court 
of Love," "The Flower and the Leaf," "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale," none of 
which was unworthy of his powers. It is possible, indeed, that the poet himself may 



/I 

xii INTRODUCTION. 

have had some dread of being saddled with the responsibiUty of having produced! 
pieces which he did not care to father. It is certainly suggestive that he himself tooki 
the pains on one occasion to furnish what it seems must have been at the time a fairly/ 
complete list of his writings. In the prologue to "The Legend of Good Women" he^ 
gave an idea of the work which up to that period he had accomplished. The God of 
Love, in the interview which is there described as having taken place, inveighs against t 
the poet for having driven men away from the service due to his deity, by the charac- 
ter of what he had written. He says : — 

" Thou mayst hit nat denye ; 
For in pleyn text, with-outen nede of glose, 
Thou hast translated the Romaunce of the Rose, 
That is an heresye ageyns my lawe, 
And makest vvyse folk fro me withdrawe. 
And of Criseyde thou hast seyd as thee liste, 
That maketh men to wommen lasse triste, 
That ben as trewe as ever was any steel." 

The Legend of Good Women, 11, 327-334. 

Against this charge the queen Alcestis is represented as interposing to the god a 
defence of the poet, in which occurs the following account of Chaucer's writings : — 

" AI be hit that he can nat well endyte, 
Yet hath he maked lewed folk delyte 
To serve you, in preysing of your name. 
He made the book that hight the Hous of Fame, 
And eek the Death of Blaunche the Duchesse, 
And the Parlement of Foules, as I gesse, 
And al the love of Palamon and Arcyte 
Of Thebes, thogh the story is knowen lyte ; 
And many an ympne for your halydayes, 
That highten Balades, Roundels, Virelayes; 
And, for to speke of other holynesse, 
He hath in prose translated Boece, 
And mad the Lyf also of seynt Cecyle; 
He made also, goon sithen a greet whyl, 
Origenes upon the Maudeleyne; 
Him oghte now to have the lesse peyne ; 
He hath mad many a lay and many a thing." 

The Legend of Good Women, 11, 414-430. 

This prologue is generally conceded to have been written between 1382 and 1385. 
Though it does not profess to furnish a complete list of Chaucer's writings, it can 
fairly be assumed that it included all which he then regarded as of importance, either 
on account of their merit or their length. If so, the titles given above would 
embrace the productions of what may be called the first half of his literary career. 
In fact, his disciple Lydgate leads us to believe that " Troilus and Criseyde " was 
a comparatively early production, though it may have undergone, and probably did 
undergo, revision before assuming its present form. " The Legend of Good Women " 
— in distinction from its prologue — would naturally occupy the time of the poet 



INTRODUCTION. 



during the opening period of what is here termed the second half of his Uterary 
career. The prologue is the only portion of it, however, that is of distinctly high 
merit. The work was never completed, and Chaucer pretty certainly came soon to 
the conclusion that it was not worth completing. It was in the taste of the times; 
but it did not take him long to perceive that an extended work, deahng exclusively 
with the sorrows of particular individuals, was as untrue to art as it was to life. 
It fell under the ban of that criticism which in " The Canterbury Tales " he puts into 
the mourti of the Knight, who interrupts the doleful recital of the tragical tales told 
by the Monk with these words : — 

" ' Ho ! ' quod the knight, ' good sir, namore of this, 
That ye han seyd is right y-nough, y-wis, 
And mochel more ; for litel hevinesse 
Is right y-nough to mochel folk, I gesse. 
I seye for me, it is a greet disese 
Wher-as men han ben in greet welthe and ese, 
To heren of hir sodeyn fal, alias 1 
And the contrarie is loie and greet solas, 
As whan a man hath been in povre estaat, 
And clynibeth up, and wexeth fortunat, 
And ther abydeth in prosperitee, 
Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me. 
And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.' " 

The Canterbury Tales, B, 11. 3957-3969. 

Accordingly, from the composition of pieces of the one-sided and unsatisfactory 
character of those contained in "The Legend of Good Women," Chaucer turned to 
Ihe preparation of his great work, "The Canterbury Tales." This gave him the 
tullest opportunity to display all his powers, and must have constituted the main 
nterary occupation of his later life. 

It will be noticed that two of the works mentioned in the prologue to "The Legend 
of Good Women " are translations, and are so avowed. One is of " The Romaunt of 
the Rose," and the other of the philosophical treatise of Boethius. In regard to the 
version of the former, which has come down, it is sufficient to say that there was not 
long ago a disposition to deny the genuineness of all of it. This now contents itself 
with denying the genuineness of part of it. The question cannot be considered here; 
it is enough to say that in the opinion of the present writer, while the subject is 
attended with certain difficulties, the evidence is very strongly in favor of Chaucer's 
composition of the whole. But setting aside discussion of this point, there can 
scarcely be any doubt that Chaucer began his career as a translator. At the period 
he flourished he could hardly have done otherwise. It was an almost inevitable 
method of procedure on the part of a man who found neither writers nor writings in 
his own tongue worthy of imitation, and who could not fail to be struck not merely 
by the excellence of the Latin classic poets, but also by the superior culture of the 
Continent. In the course of his literary development he would naturally pass from 
direct translation to adaptation. To the latter practice he assuredly resorted often. He 
took the work of the foreign author as a basis, discarded what he did not need or care 
for, and added as little or as much as suited his own convenience. In this way the 



INTRODUCTION. 



5704 lines of the "Filostrato" of Boccaccio became 8246 in the "Troilus and 
Criseyde" of Chaucer; but even of the 5704 of the Italian poet, 2974 were not used 
by the English poet at all, and the 2730 that were used underwent considerable 
compression. In a similar way he composes "The Knightes Tale," probably the 
most perfect narrative poem in our tongue. It was based upon the " Theseide " of 
Boccaccio. But the latter has 9896 lines, while the former comprises but 2250, and 
of these 2250 fully two-thirds are entirely independent of the Italian poem. 

"With such free treatment of his material, Chaucer's next step would be to direct 
composition, independent of any sources, save in that general way in which every 
author is under obligation to what has been previously produced. This finds its 
crowning achievement in " The Canterbury Tales," though several earlier pieces — ■ 
such as " The Hous of Fame," " The Parlement of P^oules," and the prologue to " The 
Legend of Good Women" — attest that long before he had shown his ability to 
produce work essentially original. But though in his literary development Chaucer 
worked himself out of this exact reproduction of his models, through a partial work- 
ing over of them till he finally attained complete independence, the habit of a trans- 
lator clung to him to the very end. Even after he had fully justified his claim to 
being a great original poet, passages occur in his writings which are nothing but the 
reproduction of passages found in some foreign poem in Latin, or French, or Italian, 
the three languages with which he was conversant. His translation of them was due 
to the fact that they had struck his fancy; his insertion of them into his own work 
was to please others with what had previously pleased himself. Numerous passages 
of this kind have been pointed out; and doubtless there are others which remain to 
be pointed out. 

There is another important thing to be marked in the history of Chaucer's develop- 
ment. Not only was poetic material lacking in the tongue at the time of his appear- 
ance, but also poetic form. The measures in use, while not inadequate for literary 
expression, were incapable of embodying it in its highest flights. Consequently, what 
Chaucer did not find, he had either to borrow or to invent. He did both. In the 
lines which have been quoted he speaks of the " balades, roundels, and virelayes," 
which he had composed. These were all favorite poetical forms in that Continental 
country with whose literature Chaucer was mainly conversant. There can be little 
question that he tried all manner of verse which the ingenuity of the poets of north- 
ern France had devised. As many of his shorter pieces have very certainly dis- 
appeared, his success in these various attempts cannot be asserted with positiveness. 
Still, what have survived show that he was a great literary artist as well as a great 
poet. His feats of rhyming, in particular in a tongue so little fitted for it as is ours, 
can be seen in his unfinished poem of " Anelida and Arcite," in " The Compleynt 
of Venus," and in the envoy which follows "The Clerkes Tale." In this last piece, 
though there are thirty-six lines, the rhymes are only three ; and two of these belong 
to fifteen lines respectively. 

But far more important than such attempts, which prove interest in versification 
rather than great poetic achievement, are the two measures which he introduced into 
our tongue. The first was the seven-line stanza. The rhyming lines in it are respec- 
tively the first and third ; the second, fourth, and fifth ; and the sixth and seventh. 
At a later period this was frequently called " rhyme royal," because the " Kingis 



INTRODUCTION. 



Quair " was written in it. For fully two centuries it was one of the most popular 
measures in English poetry. Since the sixteenth century, however, it has been but 
little employed. Far different has been the fate of the line of ten syllables, or rathei 
of five accents. On account of its frequent use in "The Canterbury Tales" it was 
called for a long period, " riding rhyme " ; but it now bears the title of" heroic verse." 
As employed by Chaucer, it varies in s-light particulars from the way it is now generally 
used. With him the couplet character was never made prominent. The sense was 
not apt to end at the second line, but constantly tended to run over into the line fol- 
lowing. There was also frequently with him an unaccented eleventh syllable ; and 
this, though not unknown to modern verse, is not common. Still, the difference be- 
tween the early and the later form are mere differences of detail, and of compara- 
tively unimportant detail. The introduction of this measure into English may be 
considered Chaucer's greatest achievement in the matter of versification. The heroic 
verse may have existed in the tongue before he himself used it. If so, it lurked un- 
seen and uninfluential. He was the first to employ it on a grand scale, if not to employ 
it at all, and to develop its capabilities. Much the largest proportion of his greatest 
work is written in that measure. Yet in spite of his example, it found for two cen- 
turies comparatively few imitators. It was not till the end of the sixteenth century 
that the measure started on a new course of Hfe, and entered upon the great part it 
has since played in English versification. 

The most important of what are sometimes called the minor works of Chaucer are 
" The Parlement of Foules," " The Hous of Fame," " Troilus and Criseyde," and " The 
Legend of Good Women." These are all favorable examples of his genius. But 
however good they may be in particular portions and in particular respects, in general 
excellence they yield place unquestionably to " The Canterbury Tales." It seems to 
have been very clearly the intention of the poet to embody in this crowning achieve- 
ment of his literary life everything in the shape of a story he had already composed 
or was purposing to compose. Two of the pieces, the story of " Palemon and Arcite," 
and the " Life of St. Cecilia," as we know from the words of his already quoted, had 
appeared long before. The plan of the work itself was most happily conceived ; and 
in spite of most painstaking efforts to find an original for it or suggestion of it some- 
where else, there seems no sufficient reason for doubting that the poet himself was 
equal to the task of having devised it. No one can certainly question the felicity with 
which the framework for embodying the tales was constructed. All ranks and classes 
of society are brought together in the company of pilgrims who assemble at the Tabard 
Inn at Southwark to ride to the shrine of the saint at Canterbury. The military class 
is represented by the Knight, belonging to the highest order of the nobility, his son 
the Squire, and his retainer the Yeoman ; the church by the Abbot, the Friar, the 
Parson, the Prioress with her attendant Nun, and the three accompanying Priests, and 
less distinctly by the Scholar, the Clerk of Oxford, and by the Pardoner and the Sum- 
moner. For the other professions are the Doctor of Physic and the Serjeant of Law; 
for the middle-class landholders, the Franklin ; and for the various crafts and occu- 
pations, the Haberdasher, the Carpenter, the Weaver, the Dyer, the Upholsterer, the 
Cook, the Ploughman, the Sailor, the Reeve, the Manciple, and (joining the party in 
the course of the pilgrimage) the assistant of the alchemist, who is called the Canon's 
Yeoman. Into the mouths of these various personages were to be put tales befitting 



INTRODUCTION. 



their character and condition. Consequently, there was ample space for stories off 
chivalry, of religion, of love, of magic, and in truth of every aspect of social life in allll 
its highest and lovi^est manifestations. Between the tales themselves were connecting: 
links, in which the poet had the opportunity to give an account of the incidents that; 
took place on the pilgrimage, the critical opinions expressed by the hearers of what: 
had been told, and the disputes and quarrels that went on between various members j 
of the party. So far as this portion of his plan was finished, these connecting links s 
furnish some of the most striking passages in the work. In one of them — the pro-- 
logue to "The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe" — the genius of the poet reaches along- 
certain lines its highest development; while the general prologue describing the. 
various personages of the party, though not containing the highest poetry of the : 
work as poetry, is the most acute, discriminating, and brilliant picture of men and! 
manners that can be found in our literature. j 

Such was th'" plan of the work. It was laid out on an extensive scale, perhaps on 
too extensive a scale ever to have been completed. Certain it is that it was very far 
from ever reaching even remotely that result. According to the scheme set forth in 
the prologue, the work when finished should have included over one hundred and 
twenty tales. It actually comprises but twenty-four. Even of these, two are incom- 
plete : " The Cokes Tale," which is little more than begun, and the romantic East- 
ern " Squieres Tale," which, in Milton's words, is " left half told." To those that 
are finished, the connecting links have not been supplied in many cases. Accord- 
ingly, the work exists not as a perfect whole, but in eight or nine fragitientary parts, 
each complete in itself, but lacking a close connection with the others, though all are 
bound together by the unity of a common central interest. The value of what has 
been done makes doubly keen the regret that so much has been left undone. Poli- 
tics, religion, literature, manners, are all touched upon in this wide-embracing view, 
which still never misses what is really essential; and added to this is a skill of por- 
trayal by which the actors, whether narrating the tales, or themselves forming the 
heroes of the narration, fairly live and breathe before our eyes. Had the work been 
completed on the scale upon which it was begun, we should have had a picture of life 
and opinion in the fourteenth century more vivid and exact than has been drawn of 
any century before or since. 

A common impression prevails that Chaucer is a very difficult author to read or 
understand. Nothing could be much farther from the truth. The belief is due, as 
has been remarked previously, to the unfamiliar orthography more than to any other 
one thing. It is strange; it looks uncouth, and therefore is deemed hard. But all 
difficulties arising from this source disappear after very brief study. On the other 
hand, Chaucer's style, like that of all early writers of genius, is characterized by per- 
fect simplicity and by consequent clearness of expression. There are very few sen- 
tences over which the reader who understands the words has to linger long in order 
to understand the meaning. Of course, like every early author, his language presents 
certain difficulties of its own. There are found in it words which have now gone out 
of use, and words which while still in use have changed their signification. But 
familiarity with all of these is a mere matter of detail and can be acquired with com- 
parative ease. 

Somewhat more serious difficulties belong to the grammar and to the metre. It 



INTRODUCTION. rvii 



may be therefore worth while to specify the most frequently recurring variations from 
modern usage, that are apt at the outset to embarrass the one seeking acquaintance 
with the poet. There is first the general statement that the inflections are fuller than 
in the English of to-day. Thus the plural of the noun is usually -es instead of the 
simple -s. In a similar way in the case of the verb we find occasionally full forms for 
the preterit plural as loveden for loved. All such differences are so easily compre- 
hended that it is' only necessary here to call attention to the fact of their existence. 
There are, however, certain pecuhar variations from modern grammar which occur 
constantly, and these it will be well to specify particularly. 

In the case of the noun, a few, which are now regularly inflected, retained then the 
old plural in -en. Illustrations are assen^ * asses ' ; been^ * bees ' ; Ion, toon, ' toes ' ; /on, 

* foes'; and so forth. 

In the case of the pronoun the plural of the pronoun of the third person is they, 
hire (variants here, hir, her'), hem, instead of they, their, them. The nominative 
plural of the pronoun of the second person is always ye ; you is invariably the objec- 
tive. Also, that — he, that — his, and that — hijn constitute a relative equivalent to -who, 
whose, whom. The dash indicates that a number of words intervene between the two 
parts of the compound relative. That is the ordinary relative, but before oon and 
other it is the definite article. 

In the case of the adjective, lojig and strong have for their comparative lenger 
and strenger. A few adjectives also retain the old comparative form in -re, as 
derre, 'dearer'; nerre (jter'), 'nearer'; ferre, 'farther*; herre, 'higher', and so 
forth. 

In the case of the verb, the third person singular of the present tense, which regu- 
larly ends in -th, undergoes contraction in certain verbs whose root ends in d or t, 
and occasionally in s. Hence we have such forms as bit, 'bids'; halt, 'holds'; rist, 

* rises'; sit, 'sits'; stont, 'stands'; and lurit, 'writes'. The plural of the present 
tense occasionally ends in -th as they loveth. The imperative plural ends regularly in 
-th. The past participle of the strong verb frequently drops the final n, especially 
when preceded by the prefix^ or i, as for illustration, ^jy^z/Z^", 'fallen'; ydrawe, 
' drawn '; y shake, ' shaken.' 

The general negative is 7te, which is sometimes also equivalent to * nor.' Connected 
with the verbs 'be' and 'have ', ne gives us such forms as nis, 'is not'; nas, 'was 
not '; nath, ' hath not,' and nadde {nad), 'had not.' The double negative never has 
an affirmative sense; it always strengthens the negation. Finally, as is frequently an 
expletive, especially with the imperative, and cannot be rendered at all. 

In regard to metre two general rules are to be observed. The first is that the final 
•e — the remnant of the old inflection — is to be pronounced when the next word begins 
with a consonant. On the other hand, it is not pronounced when that word begins 
with a vowel or h mute. To this rule there are occasional exceptions, a knowledge of 
which can only be gained by observation and practice. Still it may be helpful to add 
that certain very common words — such as oure, yoiire, and hire (' their ') — rarely, 
if ever, have the final -e pronounced under any circumstances. Again, in certain very 
:ommon words the -e is pronounced or not, according to the requirements of the verse. 
For instance, the preterit hadde, ' had,' may be treated as a monosyllable or as a dis- 
iyllable. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The second rule is that a word is frequently accented on a different syllable fronjt 
that which receives it in modern English. This syllable in Chaucer is usually th( 
last, as may be seen in words like honour, nature, governour. In some dissyllabic 
words, however, the accent may be upon the first or second syllable to suit the re 
quirements of the metre. To this it may be added that certain words consist of mor< 
syllables in Chaucer than in modern English. Thus creature is pronounced cre-a-turt 
with the principal accent on the final syllable. Similarly, condition is a word of four 
syllables, con-dit-i-on, — or con-dic-i-oun in Chaucer spelling, — the accent resting or 
the second and fourth syllables. 

A few lines divided into feet are here given to illustrate some of the preceding 
statements. It is of course to be borne in mind that the second syllable of the foo 
is regularly the one accented. 

"Whylom, | as old|e stor|ies telljen us|, '~- 

Ther was | a duk | that hight|e Thes|eus|." 

The Canterbury Tales, A, 11. 859, 860. ' 

"Why ne hadde (=nad) | I now | thy sen|tence and | thy lore|, 
The Fri|day for j to chyde, | as did|en ye| ? " 

The Canterbury Tales, B, 11. 4540, 4541. 

"That lord [ hath lit|el of | discrec|ioun], 
That in [ swich cas | can no | divislioun|." 

The Canterbury Tales, A, 11. 1779, 1780. ' 

"And bath|ed eve|ry veyne | in swich | licour|, 
Of which I vertu | engend|red is | the flour|." 

The Canterbury Tales, A, 11. 3, 4. ^ 

"Souninge | in mortal ver|tu was j his spech|e, 
And glad|ly wolde | he lerne, | and glad|ly techje." 

The Canterbury Tales, A, 11. 307, 308. 

" Noght grev|eth us | your gIor|ie and your | honour] ; 
But we I bisek|en mer|cy and | socourj." 

The Canterbury Tales, A, 11. 917, 918. 

In conclusion, it is never to be forgotten that Chaucer has no superior in the Eng 
lish tongue as a master of melody; and if a verse of his sounds inharmonious, it i 
either because the line is corrupt or because the reader has not succeeded in pro 
nouncing it correctly. 

THOMAS R. LOUNSBUR-' 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



GROUP A. THE PROLOGUE. 



^I'RE BIGINNETH THE BOOK OF THE 

Tales of Caunterbury. 

^"•"han that Aprille with his shoures sote 
Hie droghte of Marche hath perced to 

the rote, 
\nd bathed every veyne in swich licour, 
3f which vertu engendred is the flour; 
VViian Zephirus eek with his swete 

breeth 5 

frspired hath in every holt and heeth 
rhe tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne, 
A-nd smale fowles maken melodye, 
rhat slepen al the night with open ye, lo 
(-^o priketh hem nature in hir corages): 
Than longen folk to goon on pilgrim- 
ages 
(And palmers for to seken straange 

strondes) 
To feme halwes, couthe in sondry londes; 
And specially, from every shires ende 15 
Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende, 
The holy blisful martir for to seke, 
That hem hath holpen, whan that they 

were seke. 
Bifel that, "in that seson on a day. 
In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay 20 
Redy to wenden on my pilgrimage 
To Caunterbury with ful devout corage, 
At-^-ight was come in-to that hostelrye 
Wei nyne and twenty in a companye, 
Of sondry folk, by aventure y-falle 25 
[n fclawshipe, and pilgrims were they 

alle, 
rh... tov/ard Caunterbury wolden ryde; 
The chambrcs and the stables weren 

wyde, 



And wel we weren esed atte beste. 
And shortly, whan the sonne was to 

reste, 3° 

So hadde I spoken with hem everichon. 
That I was of hir felawshipe anon, 
And made forward erly for to ryse, 
To take our wey, ther as I yow devyse. 
But nathcles, whyl I have tyme and 

space, 35 

Er that I ferther in this tale pace, 
Me thinketh it acordaunt to resoun, 
To telle yow al the condicioun 
Of ech of hem, so as it semed me, 
And whiche they weren, and of what 

degree ; 40 

And eek in what array that they were 

inne : 
And at a knight than wol I first biginne. 
A Knight ther was, and that a worthy 

man. 
That fro the tyme that he first bigan 
To ryden out, he loved chivalrye, 45 

Trouthe and honour, fredom and cur- 

teisye. 
Ful worthy was he in his lordes werre, 
And therto hadde he riden (no man 

ferre) 
As wel in Cristendom as hethenesse. 
And ever honoured for his worthi- 

nesse. 5° 

At Alisaundre he was, whan it was 

wonne; 
Ful ofte tyme he hadde the bord bigonne 
Aboven alle naciouns in Pruce. 
In I,ettow hadde he reysed and in Ruce, 
No Cristen man so ofte of his degree. 55 
In Gernade at the sege eek hadde he be 
Of Algezir, and riden in Belmarye. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[58-144. 



At Lyeys was he, and at Satalye, 

Whan they were wonne; and in the 

Grete See 
At many a noble aryve hadde he be. 60 
At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene, 
And foughten for our feith at Tramis- 

sene 
In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo. 
This ilke worthy knight had been also 
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye, 65 
Ageyn another hethen in Turkye : 
And evermore he hadde a sovereyn prys. 
And though that he were worthy, he was 

wys, 
And of his port as meke as is a mayde. 
He never yet no vileinye ne sayde 70 
In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight. 
He was a verray parfit gentil knight. 
But for to tellen yow of his array. 
His hors were gode, but he Vv'as nat gay. 
Of fustian he wered a gipoun 75 

Al bismotered with his habergeoun; 
For he was late y-come from his viage, 
And wente for to doon his pilgrimage. 
With him ther was his sone, a yong 

Squyer, 
A lovyere, and a lusty bacheler, 80 

With lokkes cruUe, as they were leyd in 

presse. 
Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. 
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, 
And wonderly deliver, and greet of 

strengthe. 
And he had been somtyme in chivachye, 
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye, 86 
And born him wel, as of so litel space, 
In hope to stonden in his lady grace. 
Embrouded was he, as it were a mede 
Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and rede. 
Singinge he was, or floytinge, al the day; 
He was as fresh as is the month of May. 
Short was his goune, with sieves longe 

and wyde. 93 

Wel coude he sitte on hors, and fairc 

ryde. 
He coude songes make and wel endyte, 
luste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye 

and wryte. 96 

So hote he lovede, that by nightertale 
He sleep namore than dooth a nightin- 
gale. 
Curteys he was, lowly, and servisable. 
And carf biforn his fader at the table. 100 



A Yeman hadde he, and servauiits 

namo 
At that tyme, for him liste ryde so; 
And he was clad in cote and hood o| 

grene; 

A sheef of pecok-arwes l:)righte and kent 
Under his belt he bar ful thriftily; loi; 
(Wel coude he dresse his takel yemanly 
His arvves drouped noght with fether-es 

lowe), 
And in his hand he bar a mighty bowe. 
A not-heed hadde he, with a broun vis- 
age. 

Of wode-craft wel coude he al the usage 
Upon his arm he bar a gay bracer, in 
And by his syde a svverd and a bokeler, 
And on that other syde a gay daggere, 
Harneised wel, and sharp as point 

spere; 
A Cristofre on his brest of silver shene. 
An horn he bar, the bawdrik was of 

grene; I16 

A forster was he, soothly, as I gesse. 
'^'Ther was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, 
That of hir smyling was ful simple andi 

coy; I 

Hir gretteste ooth vi-as but by seynt Loy ; 
And she was cleped madame Eglentyne. 
Ful wel she song the service divyne, 
•Entuned in hir nose ful semely; 123 

And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly. 
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 
For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe. 
At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle; 
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, 
Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe. 
Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel 

kepe, 130 

That no drope ne fille up-on hir brest. 
In curteisye was set ful muche hir lest. 
Hir over lippe wyped she so clene, 
T'^at in hir coppe was no ferthing sene 
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hir 

draughte. 135 

Ful semely after hir mete she raughte, 
And sikerly she was of greet disport, 
And ful plesaunt, and amiable of port, 
And peyned hir to countrefete chere 
Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 
And to ben holden digne of reverence. 
But, for to speken of hir conscience, 142 
She was so charitable and so pitous. 
She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous 



145-221.] 



A. THE PROLOGUE. 



"aught in a trappe, if it were deed or 

bledde. HS 

Df smale houndes had she, that she 

fedde 
With rested llesh, or milk and wastel- 

breed. 
But sore weep she if oon of hem were 

deed, 
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte : 
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 
Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was; 151 
Hir nose tretys; hir eyen greye as glas; 
Hir mouth ful smal, and ther-to softe 

and reed; 
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed; 
It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe; 
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. 
Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war. 156 
Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar 
A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene; 
And ther-on heng a broche of gold ful 

shene, 160 

On which ther was first write a crowned A, 
And after. Amor vincit omnia. 

Another Nonne with hir hadde she, 
That was hir chapeleyne, and Preestes 

three. 
- A Monk ther was, a fair for the 

maistrye, 165 

An out-rydere, that lovede venerye;^ 
A manly man, to been an abbot able. ,■ 
Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in 

stable ; '" 

And, whan he rood, men mighte his 

brydel here 
Ginglen in a whistling wind as clere, 170 
And eek as loude as dooth the chapel- 
belle, 
Ther as this lord was keper of the celle. 
The reule of seint JNIaure or of seint 

Beneit, 
By-cause that it was old and som-d'cl 

streit, 
This ilke monk leet olde thinges pace. 
And held after the newe world the 

space. 176 

He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen. 
That seith, that hunters been nat holy 

men; 
Ne that a monk, whan he is cloisterlees. 
Is lykned til a fish that is waterlees; 180 
This is to seyn, a monk out of his 

cloistre. 



But thilke text held he nat worth an 

oistre; 
And I seyde, his opinioun was good. 
What sholde he studie, and make him- 
selven wood, 184 

Upon a book in cloistre alwey to poure, 
Or swinken with his handes, and laboure, 
As Austin bit? How shal the world be 

served? 
Lat Austin have his swink to him 

reserved. 
Ther fore he was a pricasour aright; 
Grehoundes he hadde, as swifte as fowel 
in flight; 190 

Of priking and of hunting for the hare 
Was al his lust, for no cost wolde he 

spare. 
I seigh his sieves pur filed at the bond 
With grys, and that the fyneste of a 

loncl ; 
And, for to festne his hood under his 
chin, 195 

He hadde of gold y-wroght a curious 

pin : 
A love-knotte in the gretter ende ther 

was. 
His heed was balled, that shoon as any 

glas, 
And eek his face, as he had been anoint. 
He was a lord ful fat and in good point; 
His eyen stepe, and roUinge in his heed, 
That stemed as a forneys of a leed; 202 
His botes souple, his hors in greet estat. 
Now certeinly he was a fair prelat; 
He was nat pale as a for-pyned goost. 
A fat swan loved he best of any roost. 
His palfrey was as broun as is a berye. 
— A Frere ther was, a wantown and a 
merye, 
A limitour, a ful solempne man. 209 

In alle the ordres foure is noon that can 
So muche of daliaunce and fair langage. 
He hadde maad ful many a maricige 
Of yonge wommen, at his owne cost. 
Un-to his ordre he was a noble post. 
■ Ful wel biloved and famulier was he 215 
With frankeleyns over-al in his contree, 
And eek with worthy wommen of the 

toun : 
For he had power of confessioun, 
As seyde him-self, more than a curat, 
For his ordre he was licentiat. 220 

F^ul swetely herde he confessioun, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[222-301. 



And plesaunt was his absolucioun; 
He was an esy man to yeve penaunce 
Ther as he wiste to han a good pitaunce; 
For unto a povre ordre for to yive 225 
Is signe that a man is wel y-3hrive 
For if he yaf, he dorste make avaunt, 
He wiste that a man was repentaunt. 
For many a man so hard is of his herte, 
He may nat wepe al-thogh him sore 

smerte. 230 

Therfore, in stede of weping and 

preyeres, 
Men moot yeve silver to the povre 

freres. 
His tipet was ay farsed ful of knyves 
And pinnes, for to yeven faire wyves. 
And certeinly he hadde a mery note; 235 
Wel coude he singe and pleyen on a 

rote. 
Of yeddinges he bar utterly the prys. 
His nekke whyt was as the flour-de-lys; 
Ther-to he strong was as a champioun. 
He knew the tavernes wel in every toun, 
And everich hostiler and tappestere 241 
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere; 
For un-to swich a worthy man as he 
Acorded nat, as by his facultee, 
To have with seke lazars aqueyntaunce. 
It is nat honest, it may nat avaunce 246 
For to delen with no swich poraille, 
But al with riche and sellers of vitaille. 
And over-al, ther as profit sholde aryse, 
Curteys he was, and lowly of servyse. 250 
Ther nas no man no-wher so vertuous. 
He was the beste beggere in his housj 
[And yaf a certeyn ferme for thegraunt; 
Noon of his bretheren cam ther in his 

haunt;] 252/^, <; 

For thogh a widwe hadde noght a sho, 
So plesaunt was his '^In pfincipio,''^ 
Yet wolde he have a ferthing, er he 

wente. 255 

His purchas was wel bettre than his 

rente. 
And rage he coude, as it were right a 

whelpe 
In love-dayes ther coude he muchel 

helpe. 
For there he was nat lyk a cloisterer, 
With a thredbar cope, as is a povre 

scoler, 260 

But he was lyk a maister or a pope. 
Of double worsted was his semi-cope, 



wm- 

275 
any 



That rounded as a belle out of the 

presse. 
Somwhat he lipsed, for his wantownesse, 
To make his English svvete up-on his 

tonge; 265: 

And in his harping, whan that he had 

songe, 
His eyen twinkled in his heed aright, 
As doon the sterres in the frosty night. 
This worthy limitour was cleped Huberd. 
\ A Marchant was ther with a forked 

berd, 270 

In mottelee, and hye on horse he sat, 
Up-on his heed a Flaundrish bever hat; 
His botes clasped faire and fetisly. 
-His resons he spak ful solempnely, 
Souninge alway thencrees of his 

ning. 
He wolde the see were kept for 

thing 
Bitwixe Middelburgh and Orewelle. 
Wel coude he in eschaunge sheeldes 

selle. 

This worthy man ful wel his wit bisette ; 
Ther wiste no wight that he was in 

dette, 280] 

So estatly was he of his governaunce, I 
With his bargaynes, and with his chevi- 

saunce. 
For sothe he was a worthy man with- 

alle, 
But sooth to seyn, I noot how men him 

calle. 
»,. A Clerk ther was of Oxen ford also, 
that un-to logik hadde longe y-go. 286 
As lene was his hors as is a rake, 
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake; 
But loked holvve, and ther-to soberly. 
Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy; 
For he had geten him yet no benefyce, 
Ne was so worldly for to have offyce. 
For him was lever have at his beddes 

heed 
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed, 
Of Aristotle and his philosophye, 
Than robes riche, or fithele, or 

sautrye. 
But al be that he was a philosophre, 
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre; 
But al that he mighte of his freende; 

hente, 
On bokes and on lerninge he it spente, 
And bisily gan for the soules preye 30! 



295 



^02-379.] 



A. THE PROLOGUE. 



Of hem that yaf him wher-with to 

scoleye. 
Of studie took he most cure and most 

hede. 
Noght o word spak he more than was 

nede, 
And that was seyd in forme and rever- 
ence, 305 
And short and quik, and fill of hy sen- 
tence. 
Souninge in moral vertu was his speche, 
And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly 

teche. 
" IT'Sergeant of the Lawe, war and 

wys, 
That often hadde been at the parvys, 310 
Ther was also, ful riche of excellence. 
Discreet he was, and of greet reverence : 
He semed swich, his wordes weren so 

wyse. 
lustyce he was ful often in assyse, 314 
By patente, and by pleyn commissioun; 
For his science, and for his heigh renoun 
Of fees and robes hadde he many oon. 
So greet a purchasour was no-wher 

noon. 
Al was fee simple to him in effect, 319 
His purchasing mighte nat been infect. 
No-wher so bisy a man as he ther nas. 
And yet he semed bisier than he was. 
In termes hadde he caas and domes alle. 
That from the tyme of king William were 

falle. 
Therto he coude endyte, and make a 

tiling, 325 

Ther coude no wight pinche at his 

wryting; 
And every statut coude he pleyn by rote. 
He rood but hoomly in a medlee cote 
Girt with a ceint of silk, with barres 

smale; 
Of his array telle I no lenger tale, 330 
A Frankeleyn was in his companye; 
Whyt was his berd, as is the dayesye. 
Of his complexioun he was sangwyn. 
Wei loved he by the morwe a sop in 

wyn. 
To liven in delyt was ever his wone, 335 
For he was Epicurus owne sone. 
That heeld opinioun, that pleyn delyt 
Was verraily felicitee parfyt. 
An housholdere, and that a greet, was 

he; 



vSeint Julian he was in his contree. 340 
His breed, his ale, was alwey after oon; 
A bettre envyned man was no-wher 

noon. 
With-oute bake mete was never his 

hous, 
Of fish and flesh, and that so plentevous, 
It snewed in his hous of mete and 

drinke, 345 

Of alle deyntees that men coude thinke. 
After the sondry sesons of the yeer. 
So chaunged he his mete and his soper. 
Ful many a fat partrich hadde he in 

me we, 
And many a breem and many a luce in 

stewe. 350 

Wo was his cook, but-if his sauce 

were 
Poynaunt and sharp, and redy al his 

gere. 
His table dormant in his halle alway 
Stood redy covered al the longe day. 
At sessiouns ther was he lord and 

sire; 355 

Ful ofte tyme he was knight of the shire. 
An aulas and a gipser al of silk 
Heng at his girdel, whyt as morne milk. 
A shirreve hadde he been, and a coun- 

tour; 
Was no-wher such a worthy vavasour. 360 
An Haberdassher and a Carpenter, 
A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapicer, 
W^ere with us eek, clothed in o liveree. 
Of a solempne and greet fraternitee. 
Ful fresh and newe hir gere apyked 

was ; 365 

Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with 

bras, 
But al with silver, wroght ful clene and 

weel 
Hir girdles and hir pouches every-deel. 
Wei semed ech of hem a fair burgeys, 
To sitten in a yeldhalle on a deys. 370 
Everich, for the wisdom that he can. 
Was shaply for to been an alderman. 
For catel hadde they y-nogh and rente, 
And eek hir wyves wolde it \Vel assente; 
And elles certein were they to blame. 375 
It is ful fair to been y-clept " ma (/ame" 
And goon to vigilyes al bifore, 
And have a mantel royalliche y-bore. 
A Cook they hadde with hem for the 
nones. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[380-456. 



To boille the chiknes with the mary- 

bones, 380 

And poudre-marchant tart, and galingale. 
Wei coude he knowe a draughte of 

London ale. 
He coude roste, and sethe, and broille, 

and frye, 
Maken mortreux, and v/el bake a pye. 
But greet harm was it, as it thoughte 

me, 385 

That on his shine a mormal hadde he; 
For blankmanger, that made he with the 

beste. 
A Shipman was ther, woning fer by 

weste : 
}''or aught I woot, he was of Derte- 

mouthe. 
He rood up-on a rouncy, as he couthe, 
In a gowne of falding to the knee. 391 
A daggere hanging on a laas hadde he 
Aboute his nekke under his arm adoun. 
The bote somer had maad his hewe al 
y- broun ; 
/ And, certeinly, he was a good felawe. 395 
Ful many a draughte of wyn had he 

y-drawe 
From Burdeux-ward, whyl that the chap- 
man sleep. 
Of nyce conscience took he no keep. 
If that he faught, and hadde the hyer 

bond, 
By water he sente hem boom to every 

lond. 400 

But of his craft to rekene wel his tydes, 
His stremes and his daungers him 

bisydes, 
His herberwe and his mone, his lode- 
menage, 
Ther nas noon swich from Hulle to 

Cartage. 404 

Hardy he was, and wys to undertake; 
With many a tempest hadde his herd 

been shake. 
He knew wel alle the havenes, as they 

were. 
From Gootland to the cape of Finistere, 
And every cryke in Britayne and in 

Spayne ; 
|Iis barge y-cleped was the Maudelayne. 
^ With us ther was a Doctour of 

Phisyk, 411 

In al this world ne was ther noon him 

lyk 



J 



To speke of phisik and of surgerye; 
For he was grounded in astronomye. 
He kepte his pacient a ful greet del 
In houres, by his magik naturel. 
Wel coude he fortunen the ascendent 
Of his images for his pacient. 
He knew the cause of everich maladye, 
Were it of hoot or cold, or moiste, 01 

drye, 42c 

And where engendred, and of v.'hat 

humour; 
He was a verrey parfit practisour. 
The cause y-knowe, and of his harm the 

rote, 
Anon he yaf the seke man his bote. 
Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries, 425 
To sende him drogges and his letuaries, 
For ech of hem made other for to 

winne; 
Hir frendschipe nas nat newe to biginne. 
Wel knew he the olde Esculapius, 
And Deiscorides, and eek Rufus, 430 
Old Ypocras, Ilaly, and Galien; 
Serapion, Razis, and Avicen; 
Averrois, Damascien, and Constantyn; 
Bernard, and Gatesden, and Gilbertyn. 
Of his diete mesurable was he, 435 

For it was of no superfluitee, 
But of greet norissing and digestible. 
His studie was but litel on the Bible. 
In sangwin and in pers he clad was al, 
Lyned with taffata and with sendal; 440 
And yet he was but esy of dispence; 
He kepte that he wan in pestilence. 
For gold in phisik is a cordial, 
Therfore he lovede gold in special, 
A good Wyf was ther of bisyde 

Bathe, 
But she was som-del deaf, and that was 

scathe. 446 

Of clooth-making she hadde swiche an 

haunt, 
She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt. 
In al the parisshe wyf ne was ther noon 
That to the offring bifore hir sholde 

goon; 450 

And if ther dide, certeyn, so wrooth was 

she. 
That she was out of alle charitee. 
Hir coverchiefs ful fyne were of ground; 
I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound 
That on a Sonday were upon hir heed. 
Hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed, 456 



457-534-] 



A. THE PROLOGUE. 



Ful streite y-teyd, and shoos ful moiste 

and newe. 
Bold was hir face, and fair, and reed of 

hewe. 
She was a worthy womman al hir lyve, 
Housbondes at chirche-dore she hadde 
fyve, 460 

Withouten other companye in youthe; 
But therof nedeth nat to speke as nouthe. 
And thryes hadde she been at lerusalem; 
She hadde passed many a straunge 

streem ; 

At Rome she hadde been, and at 

Boloigne, 465 

In Galice at seint lame, and at Coloigne. 

She coude muche of wandring by the 

weye: 
Gat-tothed was she, soothly for to seye. 
Up-on an amblere esily she sat, 
Y-vvimpled wel, and on hir heed an hat 
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe; 471 
A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large, 
And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe. 
In felawschip wel coude she laughe and 

carpe. 
Of remedyes of love she knew per- 
chaunce, 475 

For she coude of that art the olde 
daunce. 
A good man was ther of religioun, 
And was a povre Persoun of a toun; 
But riche he was of holy thoght and 

werk. 
He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 480 
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde 

preche; 
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche, 
Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, 
And in adversitee ful pacient ; 
And swich he was y-preved ofte sythes, 
Ful looth were him to cursen for his 
tythes, 486 

But rather wolde he yeven, out of doute, 
Un-to his povre parisshens aboute 
Of his offring, and eek of his substaunce. 
He coude in litel thing han suffisaunce. 
Wyd was his parisshe, and houses fer 
a-sonder, 491 

But he ne lafte nat, for reyn ne thonder. 
In siknes nor in meschief, to visyte 
The ferreste in his parisshe, muche and 

lyte, 
Up-pn his feet, and in his hand a staf. 



This noble ensample to his sheep he 

yaf, 496 

That first he wroghte, and afterward he 

taughte; 
Out of the gospel he tho wordes caughte; 
And this figure he added eek ther-to, 
That if gold ruste, what shal iren do? 
For if a preest be foul, on whom we 

truste, 501 

No wonder is a lewed man to ruste; 
And shame it is, if a preest take keep, 
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep. 
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive, 
By his clennesse, how that his sheep 

shold live. 506 

He sette nat his benefice to hyre. 
And leet his sheep encombred in the 

myre. 
And ran to London, un-to seynt Poules, 
To seken him a chaunterie for soules. 
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde ; 
But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his 

folde, 512 

So that the wolf ne made it nat mis- 

carie; 
He was a shepherde and no mercenarie. 
And though he holy were, and vertuous. 
He was to sinful man nat despitous, 516 
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne, 
But in his teching discreet and benigne. 
To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse 
By good ensample, was his bisinesse : 
But it were any persone obstinat, 521 
What-so he were, of heigh or lowe estat, 
Him wolde he snibben sharply for the 

nones. 
A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher 

noon is. 
He wayted after no pompe and rever- 
ence, _ 525 
Ne maked him a spyced conscience. 
But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve, 
He taughte, and first he folwed it him- 

selve. 
Xwith him ther was a Plowman, was 

his brother. 
That hadde y-lad of dong ful many a 

fother, 530 

A trewe swinker and a good was he, 
Livinge in pees and parfit charitee. 
God loved he best with al his hole herte 
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or 

smerte. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[535-6"' 



And thanne his neighebour right as him- 

selve. 535 

He vvolde thresshe, and ther-to dyke and 

delve, 
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight, 
Withouten hyre, if it lay in his might. 
His tythes payed he ful faire and wel, 
Bothe of his propre swink and his catel. 
In a tabard he rood upon a mere. 541 

Ther was also a Reve and a Millere, 
A Somnour and a Pardoner also, 
A Maunciple, and my-self; ther were 
. .- namo. 
X The Miller was a stout carl, for the 

nones, 545 

Ful big he was of braun, and eek of 

bones; 
That proved wel, for over-al ther he cam, 
At wrastling he wolde have alwey the 

ram. 
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke 

knarre, 
Ther nas no dore that he nolde heve of 

harre, 550 

Or breke it, at a renning, with his heed. 
His herd as any sowe or fox was reed. 
And ther-to brood, as though it were a 

spade. 
Up-on the cop right of his nose he hade 
A werte, and ther-on stood a tuft of 

heres, _ 555 

Reed as the bristles of a sovves eres; 
His nose-lhirles blake were and wyde. 
A swerd and bokeler bar he by his 

syde; 
His mouth as greet was as a greet for- 

neys. 
He was a langlere and a goliardeys, 560 
And that was most of sinne and har- 

lotryes. 
Wel coude he stelen corn, and toUen 

thryes; 
And yet he hadde a thombe of gold, 

pardee. 
A whyt cote and a blew hood wered he. 
A baggepype wel coude he blowe and 

sowne, 565 

And ther-with-al he broghte us out of 

towne. 
4^ A gentil Maunciple was ther of a 

temple, 
Of which achatours mighte take exemple 
For to be wyse in bying of vitaille. 



For whether that he payde, or took by 

taille, ' 570 

Algate he wayted so in his achat. 
That he was ay biforn and in good stat. 
Now is nat that of God a ful fair grace. 
That swich a lewed mannes wit shal pace 
The wisdom of an heep of lerned men? 
Of maistres hadde he mo than thryes 

ten, 576 

That were of lawe expert and curious; 
Of which ther were a doseyn in that 

ho us. 
Worthy to been stiwardes of rente and 

lond 

Of any lord that is in Engelond, 580 

To make him live by his propre good, 
In honour dettelees, but he were wood, 
Or live as scarsly as him list desire; 
And able for to helpen al a shire 
In any cas that mighte falle or happe; 
And yit this maunciple sette hir aller 

cappe. 586 

The Reve was a sclendre colerik man, 
His herd was shave as ny as ever he can. 
His heer was by his eres round y-shorn. 
His top was dokked lyk a preest l^iforn. 
Ful longe were his legges, and ful lene, 
Y-lyk a staf, ther was no calf y-sene. 592 
Wel coude he kepe a gerner and a binne; 
Ther was noon auditour coude on him 

winne. 
Wel wiste he, by the droghte, and by the 

reyn, 595 

The yelding of his seed, and of his greyn. 
His lordes sheep, his neet, his dayerye. 
His swyn, his hors, his stoor, and his 

pultrye. 
Was hooUy in this reves governing, 599 
And by his covenaunt yaf the rekening, 
vSin that his lord v.'as twenty yeer of age; 
Ther coude no man bringe him in arrer- 

age. 
Ther nas baillif, ne herde, ne other hyne, 
That he ne knew his sleighte and his 

covyne; 604 

They were adrad of him, as of the deeth. 
His woning was ful fair up-on an heeth, 
With grene trees shadvved was his place. 
He coude bettre thati his lord purchace. 
Ful riche he was astored prively. 
His lord wel coude he plesen subtilly, 
To yeve and lene him of his owne 

good, 611 



1612-685.] 



A. THE PROLOGUE. 



And have a thank, and yet a cote and 

hood. 
In youthe he lerned hadde a good 

mister; 
He was a wel good wrighte, a carpenter. 
This reve sat up-on a ful good stot, 615 
That was al pomely grey, and highte Scot. 
A long surcote of pers up-on he hade, 
i And by his syde he bar a rusty blade. 
Of North folk was this reve, of which I 

telle, 
Bisyde a toun men clepen Baldeswelle. 
Tuicked he was, as is a frere, aboute, 621 
And ever he rood the hindreste of our 

route. 
A SoMNOUR was ther with us in that 

place, 
That hadde a fyr-reed cherubinnes face. 
Fur sawcefleem he was, with eyen nairwe. 
x\.s hoot he was, and lecherous, as a 

spaiwe; 626 

With scalled browes blake, and piled 

herd; 
Of his visage children were aferd. 
Ther nas quik-silver, litarge, ne brim- 

stoon, 
Boras, ceruce, ne oille of tartre noon, 630 
Ne oynement that wolde dense and byte, 
That him mighte helpen of his whelkes 

whyte, 
Nor of the knobbes sittinge on his 

chekes. 
Wel loved he garleek, oynons, and eek 

lekes. 
And for to drinken strong wyn, reed as 

blood. 635 

Thanne wolde he speke, and crye as he 

were wood. 
And whan that he wel dronken hadde 

the wyn. 
Than wolde he speke no word but Latyn. 
A fewe termes hadde he, two or three. 
That he had lerned out of som decree; 
No wonder is, he herde it al the day; 641 
And eek ye knowen wel, how that a lay 
Can clepen ' Watte,' as well as can the 

pope. 
But who-so coude in other thing him 

grope, 
Thanne hadde he spent al his philoso- 

phye; ... 645 

Ay * Qtiesiio quid iuris ' wolde he crye.__ 
He was a gentil harlot and a kinder 






A bettre felawe sholde men noght finde. 
He wolde suffre, fur a quart of wyn, 
A good felawe to have his cuncubyn 650 
A twelf-month, and excuse him atte fuUe : 
Ful prively a finch eek coude he pulle. 
And if he fond o-wher a good felawe. 
He wolde techen him to have non awe, 
In swich cas, of the erchedeknes curs, 655 
But-if a mannes soule were in his purs; 
For in his purs he sholde y-punisshed be. 
' Purs is the erchedeknes helle,' seyde he. 
But wel I woot he lyed right in dede; 
Of cursing oghte ech gilty man him 

drede — 660 

For curs wol slee, right as assoilling 

saveth — 
And also war him of a sigiiijicavit. 
In daunger hadde he at his owne gyse 
The yonge girles of the diocyse. 
And knew hir counseil, and was al hir 

reed. 665 

A gerland hadde he set up-on his heed, 
As greet as it were for an ale-stake; 
A bokeler hadde he maad him of a cake. 
With him ther rood a gentil Pardoner 
Of Rouncival, his freend and his com- 
peer, 670 
That streight was comen fro the court of 

Rome. 
Ful loude he song, ' Com hider, love, to 

me.' 
This somnour bar to him a stif burdoun, 
W'as never trompe of half so greet a 

soun. 
This pardoner hadde heer as yelow as 

wex, 675 

But smothe it heng, as dooth a strike of 

flex; 
By ounces henge his lokkes that he 

hadde. 
And ther-with he his shuldres over- 

spradde; 
But thinne it lay, by colpons oon and 

oon; 
But hood, for lolitee, ne wered he noon. 
For it was trussed up in his walet. 681 
Him thoughte, he rood al of the newe 

let; 
Dischevele, save his cappe, he rood al 

bare. 
Swiche glaringe eyen hadde he as an 

hare. 6S4 

A vernicle hadde he sowed on his cappe. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[686-764. 



His walet lay biforn him in his lappe, 
Bret-ful of pardoun come from Rome al 

hoot. 
A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot. 
No herd hadde he, ne never sholde have, 
As smothe it was as it were late y- 

shave ; 690 

I trowe he were a gelding or a mare. 
But of his craft, fro Berwik into Ware, 
Ne was ther svvich another pardoner. 
For in his male he hadde a pilvve-beer. 
Which that, he seyde, was our lady 

veyl : 695 

He seyde, he hadde a gobet of the seyl 
That seynt Peter hadde, whan that he 

wente 
Up-on the see, til lesu Crist him hente. 
He hadde a croys of latoun, ful of 

stones, 
And in a glas he hadde pigges bones. 700 
But with thise relikes, whan that he fond 
A povre person dwelling up-on lond, 
Up-on a day he gat him more moneye 
Than that the person gat in monthes 

tweye. 
And thus, with feyned flaterye and 

lapes, 705 

He made the person and the peple his 

apes. 
But trewely to tellen, atte laste. 
He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste. 
Wei coude he rede a lessoun or a storie. 
But alderbest he song an offertorie; 710 
For wel he wiste, whan that song was 

songe. 
He moste preche, and wel affyle his 

tonge, 
To winne silver, as he ful wel coude; 
Therefore he song so meriely and loude. 
Now have I told you shortly, in a 

clause, 715 

Thestat, tharray, the nombre, and eek 

the cause 
Why that assembled was this companye 
In Southwerk, at this gentil hostelrye, 
That highte the Tabard, faste by the 

Belle. 
But now is tyme to yow for to telle 720 
How that we baren us that ilke night, 
Whan we were in that hostelrye alight. 
And after wol I telle of our viage, 
And al the remenaunt of our pilgrimage. 
But fust I pray yow, of your curteisye, 



That ye narette it nat my vileinye, 726 
Thogh that I pleynly speke in this 

matere. 
To telle yow hir wordes and hir chere; 
Ne thogh I speke hir wordes properly. 
For this ye knowen al-so wel as I, 730 
Who-so shal telle a tale after a man, 
He moot reherce, as ny as ever he can, 
Everich a word, if it be in his charge, 
Al speke he never so rudeliche and 

large; 
Or elles he moot telle his tale untrewe, 
Or feyne thing, or finde wordes 

newe. 736 

He may nat spare, al-thogh he were his 

brother; 
He moot as wel seye o word as another. 
Crist spak him-self ful brode in holy writ, 
And wel ye woot, no vileinye is it. 740 
Eek Plato seith, who-so that can him 

rede. 
The wordes mote be cosin to the dede. 
Also I prey yow to foryeve it me, 
Al have I nat set folk in hir degree 
Here in this tale, as that they sholde 

stonde ; 745 

My wit is short, ye may wel understonde. 

Greet chere made our hoste us everi- 

chon, 
And to the soper sette he us anon; 
And served us with vitaille at the beste. 
Strong was the wyn, and wel to drinke 

us leste. 750 

A semely man our hoste was with-alle 
For to han been a marshal in an halle; 
A large man he was with eyen stepe, 
A fairer burgeys is ther noon in Chepe : 
Bold of his speche, and wys, and wel y- 

taught, 755 

And of manhood him lakkede right 

naught. 
Eek therto he was right a mery man, 
And after soper pleyen he bigan. 
And spak of mirthe amonges othere 

thinges. 
Whan that we hadde maad our reken- 

inges; 760 

And seyde thus : ' Now, lordinges, 

trewely, 
Ye been to me right welcome hertely : 
For by my trouthe, if that I shal nat lye, 
I ne saugh this yeer so mery a cor 

panye 



765-838.] 



A. THE PROLOGUE. 



II 



At ones in this herbervve as is now. 765 
Fayn wolde I doon yow mirthe, wiste I 

how. 
And of a mirthe I am right now bi- 

thoght, 
To doon yow ese, and it shal coste 
noght. 
Ye goon to Caunterbury; God yow 
spede, 
The blisful martir quyte yow your 
mede. 770 

And wel I woot, as ye goon by the weye, 
Ye shapen yow to talen and to pleye; 
For trewely, confort ne mirthe is noon 
To ryde by the weye doumb as a stoon; 
And therfore wol I maken yow disport, 
As I seyde erst, and doon yow som con- 
fort. 776 
And if yow lyketh alle, by oon assent, 
Now for to stonden at my lugement, 
And for to werken as I shal yow seye, 
To-morwe, whan ye ryden by the 
weye, 780 
Now, by my fader soule, that is deed, 
But ye be merye, I wol yeve yow myn 

heed. 
Hold up your bond, withouten more 
speche.' 
Our counseil was nat longe for to 
seche; 
Us thoughte it was noght worth to make 
it wys, 785 

And graunted him withouten more avys. 
And bad him seye his verdit, as him 
leste. 
* Lordinges,' quod he, 'now herkneth 
for the beste ; 
But tak it not, I prey yow, in desdeyn; 
This is the poynt, to speken short and 
pleyn 790 

That ech of yow, to shorte with your 

weye. 
In this viage, shal telle tales tweye. 
To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so, 
And hom-ward he shal tellen othere 

two, 
Of aventures that whylom han bifalle. 
And which of yow that bereth him best 
of alle, 796 

That is to seyn, that tcllcth in this cas 
Tales of best sentence and most solas, 
Shal have a soper at our aller cost 
Here in this place, sitting by this post, 



Whan that we come agayn fro Caunter- 
bury. 801 
And for to make yow the more mery, 
I wol my-selven gladly with yow ryde. 
Right at myn owne cost, and be your 

gyde. 
And who-so wol my lugement with- 
seye 805 

Shal paye al that we spenden by the 

weye. 
And if ye vouche-sauf that it be so, 
Tel me anon, with-outen wordes mo, 
And I wol erly shape me therfore,' 

This thing was graunted, and our 

othes swore 810 

With ful glad herte, and preyden him 

also 
That he wold vouche-sauf for to do so. 
And that he wolde been our governour, 
And of our tales luge and reportour, 
And sette a soper at a certeyn prys; 815 
And we wold reuled been at his devys. 
In heigh and lowe; and thus, by oon 

assent. 
We been acorded to his lugement. 
And ther-up-on the wyn was fet anon; 
We dronken, and to reste wente echon, 
W^ith-outen any lenger taryinge. 821 

A-morwe, whan that day bigan to 
springe. 
Up roos our host, and was our aller cok. 
And gadrede us togidre, alle in a flok. 
And forth we riden, a litel more than 
pas, 825 

Un-to the watering of seint Thomas. 
And there our host bigan his hors areste. 
And seyde; ' Lordinges, herkneth, if yow 

leste. 
Ye woot your forward, and I it yow re- 

corde. 
If even-song and morwe-songacorde, 830 
Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. 
As ever mote I drinke wyn or ale, 
Who-so be rebel to my lugement 
Shal paye for al that by the weye is 

spent. 
Now draweth cut, er that we ferret 
twinne; 835 

He which that hath the shortest shal bi- 

ginne. 
Sire knight,' quod he, 'my maister and 

my lord, 
Now draweth cut, for that is myn acord. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[839-899. 



Cometh neer,' quod he, * my lady prior- 

esse; 
And ye, sir clerk, lat be your shamfast- 

nesse, 840 

Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every 

man.' 
Anon to drawen every wight bigan, 
And shortly for to tellen, as it v^'as, 
Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, 
The sothe is this, the cut fil to * the 

knight, 845 

Of which ful blythe and glad was every 

wight; 
And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun. 
By forward and by composicioun, 



As ye han herd; what nedeth wordes 

mo? 
And whan this gode man saugh it was 

so, . 850 

As he that wys was and obedient 
To kepe his forward by his free assent, 
He seyde : ' Sin I shal biginne the game, 
What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes 

name ! 
Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what 1 

seye.' 855 

And with that word we riden forth our 

weye; 
And he bigan with right a mery chere 
His tale anon, and seyde in this manere. 



Here endeth the trolog of this book; and here biginneth the first tale ^ which is the 

KnigJites Tale. 



THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



lamque domos patrias, Scithice post aspera gentis 
Pre Ha, laurigero, ofc. 

[Statius, Theb. xii. 519.] 



Whylom, as olde stories tellen us, 
Ther was a duk that highte Theseus; 860 
Of Athenes he was lord and governour, 
And in his tyme swich a conquerour. 
That gretter was ther noon under the 

Sonne. 
Ful many a riche contree hadde he 

wonne; 
What with his wisdom and his chival- 

rye, 865 

He conquered al the regne of Femenye, 
That whylom was y-cleped Scithia; 
And weddede the quene Ipolita, 
And broghte hir hoom with him in his 

contree 
With muchel glorie and greet solempni- 

tee, 870 

And eek hir yonge suster Emelye. 
And thus with victorie and with melodye 
Lete 1 this noble duk to Athenes ryde, 
And al his boost, in armes, him bisyde. 
And certes, if it nere to long to 

here, 875 

I wolde han told yow fully the manere. 
How wonnen was the regne of Femenye 



By Theseus, and by his chivalrye; 
And of the grete bataille for the nones 
Bitwixen Athenes and Amazones; 880 
And how asseged was Ipolita, 
The faire hardy quene of Scithia; 
And of the feste that was at hir weddinge. 
And of the tempest at hir hoom-cominge; 
But al that thing I moot as now for- 

bere. 885 

I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere, 
And wayke been the oxen in my plough. 
The remenant of the tale is long y-nough. 
I wol nat letten eek noon of this route; 
Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute. 
And lat see now who shal the sopcr 

winne; 891 

And ther I lefte, I wol ageyn biginne. 

This duk, of whom I make mencioun. 
When he was come almost unto the 

toun, 
In al his wele and in his moste pryde, 895 
He was war, as he caste his eye asyde, 
Wher that ther kneled in the hye weye 
A companye of ladies, tvveye and tweye, 
Ech after other, clad in clothes blake; 



900-978.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



13 



But swich a cry and swich a wo they 

make, 900 

That in this world nis creature livinge, 
That herde swich another weymentinge ; 
And of this cry they nolde never stenten, 
Til they the reynes of his brydel henten. 
' What folk ben ye, that at niyn hooni- 

cominge 905 

Perturben so my feste with cryinge?' 
Quod Theseus, ' have ye so greet envye 
Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and 

crye ? 
Or who hath yow misboden, or offended? 
And telleth me if it may been amended; 
And why that ye ben clothed thus in 

blak ? ' 911 

The eldest lady of hem alle spak, 
When she hadde swowned with a deedly 

chere, 
That it was routhe for to seen and here, 
And seyde : ' Lord, to whom Fortune 

hath yiven 915 

Victorie, and as a conquerour to liven, 
Noght greveth us your glorie and your 

honour; 
But we b^'^.eken mercy and socour. 
Have me.cy on our wo and our distresse. 
Som drope of pitec, thurgh thy gentil- 

lesse, 920 

Up-on us wrecched v.'ommcn lat thou 

falle. 
For certes, lord, ther nis noon of us alle, 
That she nath been a duchesse or a 

queue; 
Now be we caitifs, as it is wel sene : 
Thanked be Fortune, and hir false 

wheel, 925 

That noon estat assureth to be week 
And certes, lord, to abyden your presence. 
Here in the temple of the goddesse 

Clcmence 
!,Wc han ben waytingeal this fourtcnight; 
Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy 

might. 930 

I wrecche, which that.wepe and waille 

thus, 
Was whylom wyf to king Capaneus, 
That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day ! 
And alle we, that been in this array, 
And maken al this lamentacioun, 935 
We losten alle our housbondes at that 

toun, 
Whyl that the sege ther-aboute lay. 



And yet now the olde Creon, weylaway ! 
That lord is now of Thebes the citee, 
Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee, 940 

He, for despyt, and for his tirannye, 
To do the dede bodyes vileinye. 
Of alle our lordes, whiche that ben slawe, 
Hath alle the bodyes on an heep y-drawe, 
And wol nat suffren hem, by noon 

assent, 945 

Neither to been y-buried nor y-brent. 
But maketh houndes ete hem in despyt.' 
And with that word, with-outen more 

respyt, 
They fiUen gruf, and cryden pitously, 
' Have on us wrecched wommen som 

mercy, 950 

And lat our sorwe sinken in thyn herte.' 

This gentil duk doun from his courser 

stcrte 
With lierte pitous, whan he herde hem 

speke. 
Him thoughte that his herte wolde breke, 
W^han he saugh hem so pitous and so 

mat, 955 

That whylom weren of so greet estat. 
And in his armes he hem alle up hente. 
And hem comforteth in ful good entente; 
And swoor his 00th, as he was trewe 

knight, 959 

He wolde doon so ferforthly his might 
Up-on the tyraunt Creon hem to wreke, 
That al the peple of Grece sholde speke 
How Creon was of Theseus y-served, 
As he that hadde his deeth ful wel de- 
served. 964 
And right anoon, with-outen more abood, 
His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood 
To Thebes-ward, and al his host bisyde; 
No neer Athenes wolde he go ne ryde, 
Ne take his ese fully half a day. 
But onward on his wey that night he 

lay; 970 

And sente anoon Ipolita the queue, 
And Emelye hir yonge suster shene, 
Un-to the toun of Athenes to dwelle; 
And forth he rit; ther nis namore to 

telle. 
The rede statue of Mars, with spere 

and targe, 975 

So shyneth in his whyte baner large. 
That alle the feeldes gliteren up and 

doun; 
And by his baner born is his penoun 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[979-1056. 



Of gold ful riche, in which ther was 

y-bete 
The Minotaur, which that he slough in 

Crete. 980 

Thus rit this duk, thus rit this conquerour, 
And in his host of chivalrye the fiour, 
Til that he cam to Thebes, and alighte 
Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoghte 

fighte. 
But shortly for to speken of this thing, 985 
With Creon, whicii that was of Thebes 

king, 
He faught, and slough him manly as a 

knight 
In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to 

flight; 
And by assaut he v/an the citee after, 
And rente adoun bothe wal, and sparre, 

and rafter; 990 

And to the ladyes he restored agayn 
The bones of hir housbondes that were 

slayn, 
To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse. 
But it were al to long for to devyse 
The grete clamour and the wayment- 

inge 995 

That tue ladyes made at the brenninge 
Of the bodyes, and the grete honour 
/ That Theseus, the noble conquerour, 
Doth to the ladyes, whan they from him 

wente; 
But shortly for to telle is myn entente. looo 
Whan that this worthy duk, this Theseus, 
Hath Creon slayn, and wonne Thebes thus, 
Stille in that feeld he took al night his 

reste. 
And dide with al the contree as him leste. 
To ransake in the tas of bodyes 

dede, 1005 

Hem for to strepe of harneys and of 

wede. 
The pilours diden bisinesse and cure, 
After the bataille and disconfiture. 
And so bifel, that in the tas they founde, 
Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody 

wounde, 1 010 

Two yonge knightes ligging by and by, 
Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely, 
Of whiche two, Arcita hight that oon, 
And that other knight hight Palamon. 
Nat fully quike, ne fully dede they 

were, 10 15 

But by hir cote-armures, and by hir gere, 



The heraudes knewe hem best in special, 
As they that weren of the blood royal 
Of Thel)es, and of sustren two y-born. 
Out of the tas the pilours han hem 

torn, 1020 

And han hem caried softe un-to the tente 
Of Theseus, and he ful sone hem sente 
To Athenes, to dwellen in prisoun 
Perpetuelly, he nolde no raunsoun. 
And whan this worthy duk hath thus 

y-don, 1025 

He took his host, and hoom he rood 

anon 
With laurer crowned as a conquerour; 
And there he liveth, in loye and in 

honour, 
Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes 

mo? 
And in a tour, in angwish and in wo, 1030 
Dwellen this Palamoun and eek Arcite, 
For evermore, ther may no gold hem 

quyte. 
This passeth yeer by yeer, and day by 

day. 
Til it fil ones, in a morwe of May, 
That Emelye, that fairer was to sene 1035 
Than is the lilie upon his stalke grene, 
And fressher than the May with floures 

newe — 
For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe, 
I noot which was the fairer of hem two — 
Er it were day, as was hir wone to do, 1040 
She was arisen, and al redy dight; 
For May wol have no slogardye a-night. 
The sesoun priketh every gentil herte. 
And maketh him out of his sleep to sterte. 
And seith, 'Arys, and do thyn obser- 

vaunce.' I045 

This maked Emelye have remembraunce 
To doon honour to May, and for to ryse. 
. Y-clothed was she fresh, for to devyse; 
Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse, 
Behinde hir bak, a yerde long, I 

gesse. 1050 

And in the gardin, at the sonne up-riste. 
She walketh up and doun, and as hir 

liste 
She gadereth floures, party whyte and 

rede, 
To make a sotil gerland for hir hede. 
And as an aungel hevenly she song. 1055- 
The grete tour, that was so thikke and 

strong, 



057-II37-] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



15 



Vhich of the castel was the chief don- 

geoun, 
Ther-as the knightes weren in prisoun, 
)f whiche I tolde yovv, and tellen shal) 
Vas evene loynant to the gardin-wal, 1060 
'her as this Emclye liadde hir pleyinge. 
kight was the Sonne, and cleer that 

morweninge, 
^nd Palanion, this woful prisoner, 
vs was his wone, by leve of his gayler, 
Vas risen, and romed in a chambre on 

heigh, 1065 

n which he al the noble citee seigh, 
Lnd eek the gardin, ful of braunches 

grene, 
'her-as this fresshe Eofielye the shene 
Vas in hir walk, and romed up and 

doun. 
:'his sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun, 
loth in the chambre, roming to and 
! fro, 1071 

ind to him-self compleyning of his wo; 
'hat he was born, ful ofte he seyde, 'alas ! ' 
\nd so bifel, by aventure or cas, 
.'hat thurgh a window, thikke of many a 
I barre 1075 

M yren greet, and square as any sparre, 
ue caste his eye upon Emelya, 
;pd ther-with-al he bleynte, and cryde 
1 ' a ! ' 

lis though he stongen were un-to the 
i herte. 1079 

Ind with that cry Arcite anon up-sterte, 
.nd seyde, ' Cosin myn, what eyleth thee, 
'hat art so pale and deedly on to see? 
V'hy crydestow? who hath thee doon 

offence? 
I or Goddes love, tak al in pacience 
ti'ur prisoun, for it may non other be ; 1085 
ortune hath yeven us this adversitee. 
;om wikke aspect or disposicioun 
'f Saturne, by sum constellacioun, 
[ath yeven us this, al-though we hadde 

it sworn; 
J stood the hevcn whan that we were 

born; 1090 

/c nioste endure it : this is the short and 

p.leyn.' 
This Palamon answerde, and seyde 

ageyn, 
I Tosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun 
hou hast a veyn imaginacioun. 
his prison caused me nat for to crye. 1095 



But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn 

ye 
In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. 
The fairnesse of that lady that I see 
Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, 
Is cause of al my crying and my wo. 1 100 
I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; 
But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.' 
And ther-with-al on knees doun he fil. 
And seyde : * Venus, if it be thy wil 1 104 
Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure 
Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature. 
Out of this prisoun help that we may 

scapen. 
And if so be my destinee be shapen 
By eterne word to dyen in prisoun. 
Of our linage have som compassioun, 1 1 10 
That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.' 
And with that word Arcite gan espye 
Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. 
And with that sighte hir beautee hurte 

him so. 
That, if that Palamon was wounded 

sore, 1 1 15 

Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. 
And with a sigh he seyde pitously : 
'The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly 
Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; 
And, but I have hir mercy and hir 

grace, 11 20 

That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, 
I nam but deed ; ther nis namore to seye.' 
This Palamon, whan he tho wordes 

herde, 
Dispitously he loked, and answerde : 
' Whether seistow this in ernest or in 

pley?' 1 1 25 

' Nay,' quod Arcite, ' in ernest, by my 

fey! 
God help me so, me list ful yvele pleye.' 
This Palamon gan knitte his browes 

tweye : 
'It nere,' quod he, 'to thee no greet 

honour 
For to be fals, ne for to be traytour 11 30 
To me, that am thy cosin and thy brother 
Y-sworn ful depe, and ech of us til other. 
That nevej-, for to dyen in the peyne, 
Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne. 
Neither of us in love to hindren other, 
Ne in non other cas, my leve brother; 
But that thou sholdest trewely forthren 

me 1 137 



i6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1138-12161 



In every cas, and I shal forthren thee. 
This was thyn 00th, and myn also, cer- 

teynf 
I wot right wel, thou darst it nat with- 

seyn. 11 40 

Thus artow of my counseil, out of doute. 
And now thou woldest falsly been aboute 
To love my lady, whom I love and serve, 
And ever shal, til that myn herte sterve. 
Now certes, fals Arcite, thou shalt nat 

so. 1 145 

I loved hir first, and tolde thee my wo 
As to my counseil, and my brother sworn 
To forthre me, as I have told biforn. 
F'or which thou art y-bounden as a knight 
To helpen me, if it lay in thy might, 1 150 
Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn.' 

This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn, 
*Thou shalt,' quod he, * be rather fals 

than I; 
But thou art fals, I telle thee utterly; 
For par amour I loved hir first er 

thow. 1 155 

What wiltow seyn? thou wistest nat yet 

now 
Whether she be a womman or goddesse ! 
Thyn is affeccioun of holinesse, 
And myn is love, as to a creature; 
For which I tolde thee myn aventure 1 160 
As to my cosin, and my brother sworn. 
I pose, that thou lovedest hir biforn; 
Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe, 
That ' who shal yeve a lover any lawe? ' 
Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, 1165 
Than may be yeve to any erthly man. 
And therefore positif lawe and swich de- 
cree 
Is broke al-day for love, in ech degree. 
A man moot nedes love, maugree his 

heed. 
He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be 

deed, 1 1 70 

Al be she mayde, or widwe, or elles wyf. 
And eek it is nat lykly, al thy lyf, 
To stonden in hir grace; namore shal I; 
For wel thou woost thy-selven, verraily, 
That thou and I be dampned to pris- 

oun , 1 1 75 

Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.- 
We stryve as dide the houndes for the 

boon. 
They foughte al day, and yet hir part was 



Ther cam a kyte, whyl that they were 

wrothe, 
And bar awey the boon bitwixe henn 

bothe. 1 1 8c 

And therfore, at the kinges court, my 

brother, 
Ech man for him-self, ther is non other. 
Love if thee list; for I love and ay shal; 
And soothly, leve brother, this is al. 
Here in this prisoun mote we en- 
dure, 1 1 85 
And everich of us take his aventure.' 
Greet was the stryf and long bitwixe 

hem tvveye. 
If that I hadde leyser for to seye; 
But to theffect. It happed on a day, 
(To telle it yow as shortly as I may) 1 19O' 
A worthy duk that highte Perotheus, 
That felawe was un-to duk Theseus 
Sin thilke day that they were children) 

lyte. 
Was come to Athenes, his felawe to 

visyte, 
And for to pleye, as he was wont to 

do, 1 195 

For in this world he loved no man so : 
And he loved him as tendrely ageyn. 
So wel they loved, as olde bokes seyn. 
That whan that oon was deed, sothly to 

telle. 
His felawe wente and soghte him doun 

in helle; 1 200 

But of that story list me nat to wryte. 
Duk Perotheus loved wel Arcite, 
And hadde him knowe at Thebes yeer 

by yere ; 
And fynally, at requeste and preyere 
Of Perotheus, with-oute any raunsoun, 
Duk Theseus him leet out of prisoun. 
Freely to goon, wher that him liste over- 

al, 1 207 

In swich a gyse, as I you tellen shal. 
This was the forward, pleynly for ten- 

dyte, 
Bitwixen Theseus and him Arcite: 12101 
That if so were, that Arcite were y-> 

founde 
Ever in his lyf, by day or night or stounde 
In any contree of this Theseus, 
And he were caught, it was acorded thus, 
That with a swerd he sholde lese his 

heed; 1215 

Ther nas non other remedye ne reed, 



: 21 7-1 296.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



3ut taketh his leve, and homvvard he him 

spedde; 
|;^et him be war, his nekke lyth to wedde ! 
I How greet a sorwe suffreth now Ar- 

cite ! 
rhe deeth he feleth thurgh his herte 
! smyte; 1220 

i'le wepeth, wayleth, cryeth pitously; 
To sleen him-self he wayteth prively, 
He seyde, ' Alias that day that I was 
[ born ! 

"^fow is my prison worse than biforn; 
[[•^ow is me shape eternally to dwelle 1225 
IVoght in purgatorie, but in helle. 
\llas ! that ever knew I Perotheus ! 
^'or elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus 
|;i^-fetered in his prisoun ever-mo. 
rhan hadde I been in blisse, and nat in 

wo. 1230 

^)nly the sighte of hir, whom that I serve, 
rhough that I never hir grace may de- 
: serve, 
VVolde han suffised right y-nough for me. 

dere cosin Palamon,' quod he, 1234 
^Thyn is the victorie of this aventure, 
Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure; 

[n prison? certes nay, but in paradys ! 
Wei hath fortune y-turned thee the dys, 
JThat hast the sighte of hir, and I thab- 

1 sence. 

for possible is, sin thou hast hir pres- 
i ence, 1240 

A.nd art a knight, a worthy and an able, 
rhat by som cas, sin fortune is chaunge- 

able, 
rhou mayst to thy desyr som-tyme atteyne. 
But I, that am exyled, and bareyne 
3f alle grace, and in so greet despeir, 1245 
rhat ther nis erthe, water, fyr, ne eir, 
Ne creature, that of hem maked is, 
That may me helpe or doon confort in 

this. 
Wei oughte I sterve in wanhope and 

distresse ; 
Farwel my lyf, my lust, and my glad- 
nesse ! 1250 

Alias, why pleynen folk so in com- 
mune 
Of purveyaunce of God, or of fortune. 
That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse 
Wei bcttre than they can hem-self de- 

vyse ? 
Som man desyreth for to han richesse, 



That cause is of his mordre or greet sik- 

nesse. 1256 

And som man wolde out of his prison 

fayn, 
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. 
Infinite harmes been in this matere; 
We witen nat what thing we preyen 

here. 1260 

We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; 
A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous. 
But he noot which the righte wey is 

thider; 
And to a dronke man the wey is slider. 
And certes, in this world so faren we; 
We seken faste after felicitee, 1266 

But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. 
Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, 
That wende and hadde a greet opinioun. 
That, if 1 niighte escapen from prisoun, 
Than hadde I been in loye and perfit 

hele, 1 27 1 

Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. 
Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, 
I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.' 

Up-on that other syde Palamon, 1275 
Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon, 
Swich sorwe he niaketh, that the grete 

tour 
Resouneth of his youling and clamour. 
The pure fettres on his shines grete 
W^eren of his bittre salte teres wete. 1280 
'Alias! ' quod he, 'Arcita, cosin myn, 
Of al our stryf, God woot, the fruyt is 

thyn. 
Thow walkcst now in Thebes at thy 

large, 
And of my wo thou yevest litel charge. 
Thou mayst, sin tliou hast wisdom and 

manhede, 1285 

Assemblen alle the folk of our kinrede, 
And make a werre so sharp on this 

citee, 
That by som aventure, or som tretee, 
Thou mayst have hir to lady and to wyf, 
For whom that I mot ncdes lese my lyf. 
For, as by wey of possibilitee, 1291 

Sith thou art at thy large, of prison free, 
And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage, 
More than is myn, that sterve here in a 

cage. 1294 

For I mot wepe and wayle, whyl I live, 
With al the wo that prison may me 

yive, 



i8 



TITE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1 297-1 372. 



And eek with peyne that love me yiveth 

also, 
That doubleth al my torment and my 

wo.' 
Ther-with the fyf of lelousye up-sterte 
With-inne his brest, and hente him l:)y 

the herte 1300 

So woodly, that he lyk was to biholde 
The box-tree, or the asshen dede and 

colde, 
Tho seyde he; 'O cruel goddes, that 

governe 
This world with binding of your word 

eterne, 1304 

And wryten in the table of athamaunt 
Your parlement, and your eterne graunt. 
What is mankinde more un-to yow holde 
Than is the sheep, that rouketh in the 

folde? 
For slayn is man right as another beste. 
And dwelleth eek in prison and areste, 
And hath siknesse, and greet adversitee, 
And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee ! 1 31 2 
What governaunce is in this prescience. 
That giltelees tormenteth innocence? 
And yet encreseth this al my penaunce, 
That man is bounden to his observaunce. 
For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille, 
Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille. 
And whan a beest is deed, he hath no 

peyne; 
But man after his deeth moot wepe and 

pleyne, 1 320 

Though in this world he have care and 

wo : 
With-outen doute it may stonden so. 
The answere of this I lete to divynis. 
But wel I woot, that in this world gret 

pyne is. 
Alias! I see a serpent or a theef, 1325 
That many a trewe man hath doon mes- 

cheef, 
Goon at his large, and wher him list may 

turne. 
But I mot been in prison thurgh Saturne, 
And eek thurgh luno, lalous and eek 

wood, 1329 

That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood 
Of Thebes, with his waste walles wyde. 
And Venus sleeth me on that other syde 
For lelousye, and fere of him Arcite.' 
Now wol I stinte of Palamon a lyte. 
And lete him in his prison stille dwelle, 



And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle, 1336 
The somer passeth, and the nightes 
longe 
Encresen double wyse the peynes stronge 
Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner. 
I noot which hath the wofuUere mester. 
P'or shortly fur to seyn, this Palamoun 1 341 
Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun, 
In cheynes and in fettres to ben deed; 
And Arcite is exyled upon his heed 
For ever-mo as out of that contree, 1345 
Ne never-mo he shal his lady see. 

Yow loveres axe I now this questioun, 
Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun? 
That oon may seen his lady day by day. 
But in prison he moot dwelle alway. 1350 
That other wher him list may ryde or go, 
But seen his lady shal he never-mo. 
Now demeth as yow liste, ye that can, 
For I wol telle forth as I bigan. 

Explicit prijua Pars. Sequittir pars 
secunda. 



Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen 

was, 1355 

Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde 

' alias,' 
For seen his lady shal he never-mo. 
And shortly to concluden al his wo, 
So muche sorwe had never creature 
That is, or shal, whyl that the world may 

dure. 1360 

His sleep, his mete, his drink is him 

biraft. 
That lene he wex, and drye as is a shaft. 
His eyen holwe, and grisly to biholde; 
His hewe falwe, and pale as asshen 

colde. 
And solitarie he was, and ever allone, 
And wailling al the night, making his 

mone. 1366 

And if he herde song or instrument. 
Then wolde he wepe, he mighte nat be 

stent; 
So feble eek were his spirits, and so 

lowe, 
And chaunged so, that no man coude 

knowe 1370 

Flis speche nor his vols, though men it 

herde. 
And in his gere, for al the world he 

ferde 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



19 



Nat oonly lyk the loveres nialaclye 
Of Hereos, but rather lyk nianye 
Engendred of humour malenculyk, 1375 
Biforen, in his celle fantastyk. 
And shortly, turned was al up-so-doun 
Bothe habit and eek disposicioun 
Of him, this woful lovere daun Arcite. 
What sholde I al-day of his wo en- 

dyte ? 1 380 

Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two 
Ihis cruel torment, and this peyne and 

wo, 
At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde, 
Up-on a night, in sleep as he him leyde, 
Him thoughte how that the winged god 

Mercuric 13S5 

Biforn him stood, and bad him to be 

murye. 
Hisslepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte; 
An hat he werede up-on his lieres brighte. 
Arrayed was this god (as he took keep) 
As he was whan that Argus took his 

sleep; 1390 

And seyde him thus : ' To iVthenes shaltou 

wende; 
Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende.' 
And with that word Arcite wook and 

sterte. 
*Now trewely, how sore that me smerte,' 
Quod he, 'to Athenes right now wol I 

fare; 1395 

Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare 
To see my lady, that I love and serve; 
In hir presence I recche nat to sterve.' 
And with that word he caughte a greet 

niirour, 
And saugh that chaunged was al his 

colour, 1400 

And saugh his visage al in another kinde. 
And right anoon it ran him in his minde, 
That, sith his face was so disfigured 
Of maladye, the which he hadde endured. 
He mighte wel, if that he bar him 

lovve, 1405 

Live in Athenes ever-more unknowe, 
And seen his lady wel ny day by day. 
And right anon he chaunged his array. 
And cladde him as a povre laborer, 
And al allone, save oonly a squyer, 1410 
That knew his privetee and al his cas, 
Which was disgysed povrely, as he was. 
To Athenes is he goon the nexte way. 
And to the court he wente up-on a day, 



And at the gate he profreth his ser- 

vyse, 1 41 5 

To drugge and drawe, what so men wol 

devyse. 
And shortly of this matere for to seyn, 
He fil in office with a chamberleyn. 
The wdiich that dwelling was with Emelye. 
For he was wys, and coude soon aspye 
Of every servaunt, which that serveth 
here. 1421 

Wel coude he hewcn wode, and water 

here, 
For he was yong and mighty for the 

nones, 
And ther-to he was strong and big of 
bones 1424 

To doon that any wiglit can him devyse. 
A yeer or two he was in this servyse, 
Page of the chambre of Emelye the 

brighte; 
And ' Fhilostrate ' he seide that he highte. 
But half so wel biloved a man as he 
Ne was ther never in court, of his de- 
gree; 1430 
He was so gentil of condicioun, 
Thatthurghout al the court was hisrenoun. 
They seyden, that it v/ere a charitee 
That Theseus wokle enhauncen his de- 
gree, _ 1434 
And putten him in worshipful servyse, 
Ther as he mighte his vertu excercyse. 
And thus, with-inne a whyle, his name is 

spronge 
Bothe of his dedes, and his goode tonge, 
That Theseus hath taken him so neer 
That of his chambre he made him a 
\^^ squyer, 1440 

And yaf him gold to mayntene his degree ; 
And eek men broghle him out of his 

contree 
From yeer to yeer, ful prively, his rente; 
But honestly and slyly he it spente. 
That no man wondred how that he it 
hadde. 1445 

And three yeer in this wyse his lyf he 

ladde, 
And bar him so in pees and eek in werre, 
Ther nas no man that Theseus hath derre. 
And in this blisse lete I now Arcite, 
And speke I wol of Palamon a lyte. 1450 
In derknesse and horrible and strong 
prisoun 
This seven yeer hath seten Palamoun, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1453-153S;; 



Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse; 
Who feleth double soor and hevinesse 
But Palamon? that love destreyneth 

so, 1455 

That wood out of his wit he gooth for wo; 
And eek therto he is a prisoner 
Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yeer. 
Who coude ryme in English proprely 
His martirdom ? for sothe, it am nat 

I; 1460 

Therefore I passe as lightly as I may- 
It fel that in the seventhe yeer, in May, 
The thridde night, (asolde Sokes seyn, 
That al this storie tellen more pleyn,) 
Were it by aventure or destinee, 1465 
(As, whan a thing is shapen, it shal be,) 
That, sone after the midnight, Palamoun, 
By helping of a freend, brak his prisoun, 
And fleeth the citee, faste as he may go; 
For he had yive his gayler drinke so 1470 
Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn, 
W'ith nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn. 
That al that night, thogh that men wolde 

him shake, 
The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake; 
And thus he fleeth as faste as ever he 

may. ' 1475 

The night was short, and faste by the day, 
That nedes-cost he moste him-selven 

hyde. 
And til a grove, faste ther besyde, 
With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun. 
For shortly, this was his opinioun, 1480 
That in that grove he wolde him hyde al 

day. 
And in the night than wolde he take his 

way 
To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye 
On Theseus to helpe him to werreye; 
And shortly, outher he wolde lese his 

lyf, 1485 

Or winnen Emelye un-to his wyf; 
This is theffect and his entente pleyn. 

Now wol I torne un-to Arcite ageyn, 
That litel wiste how ny that was his care, 
Til that fortune had broght him in the 

snare. 1490 

The bisy larke, messager of day, 
Salueth in hir song the morwe gray; 
And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte, 
That al the orient laugheth of the lighte, 
And with his stremes dryeth in the 

greves 1495 



The silver dropes, hanging on the leves. • 
And Arcite, that is in the court royal 
With Theseus, his squyer principal, 
Is risen, and loketh on the myrie day. 
And, for to doon his observaunce to 

M ay, 1 500 

Remembring on the poynt of his desyr, 
He on a courser, sterting as the fyr, 
Is riden in-to the feekks, him to pleye, 
Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye; 
And to the grove, of which that I yow 

tolde, 1505 

By aventure, his wey he gan to holde. 
To maken him a gerland of the greves, 
Were it of wodebinde or hawethorn-leves, 
And loude he song ageyn the Sonne shene : 
' May, with alle thy floures and thy 

grene, 15 10 

Wel-come be thou, faire fresshe May, 
I hope that I som grene gete may.' 
And from his courser, with a lusty herte, 
In-to the grove ful hastily he sterte, 
And in a path he rometh up and 

doun, 15 15 

Ther-as, by aventure, this Palamoun 
Was in a bush, that no man mighte him 

see. 
For sore afered of his deeth was he. 
No-thing ne knew he that it was Arcite : 
God wot he wolde have trowed it ful 

lyte. 1520 

But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres, 
That ' feeld hath eyen, and the wode hath 

eres.' 
It is ful fair a man to here him evene, 
P'or al-day meteth men at unset stevene. 
Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, 1525 
That was so ny to herknen al his sawe, 
For in the bush he sitteth now ful stille. 
Whan that Arcite had romed al his 

tille, 
And songen al the roundel lustily, 
In-to a studie he hi sodeynly, 1530 

As doon thise loveres in hir queynte 

geres. 
Now in the croppe, now doun in the 

breres. 
Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle. 
Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle. 
Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste. 
Right so can gery Venus overcaste 1536 
The hcrtes of hir folk; right as hir day 
Is gerful, right so chaungeth she array. 



I539-I6II.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



Selde is the Friday al the wyke y-lyke. 
Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan 

to syke, 1540 

And sette him doun with-outen any 

more : 
* Alas ! ' quod he, ' that day that I was 

bore ! 
How longe, luno, thurgh tliy crueltee, 
Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee ? 
Alias! y-broght is to confusioun 1545 
The blood royal of Cadme and Am- 

phiomi ; 
Of Cadmus, which that was the firste 

man 
That Thebes bulte, or first the toun 

bigan, 
And of the citee first was crouned king, 
Of his linage am I, and his of-spring 1550 
By verray ligne, as of the stok royal : 
And now I am so caitif and so thral, 
That he, that is my mortal enemy, 
I serve him as his squyer povrely. 
And yet doth luno me wel more shame. 
For I dar noght biknowe myn owne 

name; 1556 

But ther-as I was wont to highte Arcite, 
Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a 

myte. 
Alias ! thou felle Mars, alias ! luno, 
Thus hath your ire our kinrede al 

fordo, 1560 

Save only me, and wrecched Palamoun, 
That Theseus martyreth in prisoun. 
And over al this, to sleen me utterly. 
Love hath his fyry dart so brenningly 
Y-stiked thurgh my trewe careful 

herte, 1565 

That shapen was my deeth erst than my 

sherte. 
Ye sleen me with your eyen, Emelye; 
Ye been the cause wherfor that I dye. 
Of al the remenant of myn other care 
Ne sette I nat the mountaunce of a 

tare, 1570 

So that I coude don aught to your ples- 

aunce ! ' 
And with that word he fil doun in a 

traunce 
A longe tyme; and after he up-sterte. 
This Palamoun, that thoughte that 

thurgh his herte 
He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche 

glyde, 1575 



For ire he quook, no lenger vvolde he 

byde. 
And whan that he had herd Arcites tale, 
As he were wood, with face deed and 

pale, 
He sterte him up out of the buskes 

thikke. 
And seyde : ' Arcite, false traitour 

wikke, 1580 

Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so, 
For whom that I have al this peyne and 

wo. 
And art my blood, and to my counseil 

sworn. 
As I ful ofte have told thee heer-biforn, 
And hast by-iaped here duk Theseus, 
And falsly chaunged hast thy name 

thus; 1586 

I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye. 
Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye, 
But I wol love hir only, and namo; 
For I am Palamoun, thy mortal fo. 1590 
And though that I no wepne have in 

this place. 
But out of prison am astert by grace, 
I drede noght thet outher thou shalt dye. 
Or thou ne shalt nat loven Emelye. 
Chees which thou wilt, for thou shalt 

nat asterte.' 1595 

This Arcite, with ful despitous herte 
Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale 

herd, 
As fiers as leoun, pulled out a swerd. 
And seyde thus : ' by God that sit above, 
Nere it that thou art sik, and wood for 

love. 1600 

And eek that thou no wepne hast in this 

place 
Thou sholdest never out of this grove 

pace. 
That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn bond. 
For I defye the seurtee and the bond 
Which that thou seyst that I have maad 

to thee. 1605 

What, verray fool, think wel that love is 

free. 
And I wol love hir, maugre al thy might ! 
But, for as muche thou art a worthy 

knight 
And wilnest to darreyne hir by batayle, 
Have heer my trouthe, to-morwe I wol 

nat fayle, 1610 

With-outen witing of any other wight, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1612-1688 



That here I wol be founden as a knight, 
And bringen barneys right y-nough fur 

thee; 
And chees the beste, and leve the worste 

for me. 
And mete and drinke this night wol I 

bringe 1^15 

Y-nough for thee, and clothes for thy 

beddinge. 
And, if so be that thou my lady winne, 
And slee me in this wode ther I am 

inne. 
Thou mayst wel have thy lady, as for me.' 
This Palamon answerde : * 1 graunte it 

thee.' 1620 

And thus they been departed til a- 

morwe, 
When ech of hem had leyd his feith to 

borwe. 
O cupide, out of alle charitee ! 
O regne, that wolt no felawe have with 

thee! 
Ful sooth is seyd, that love ne lord- 

shipe 1625 

Wol noght, his thankes, have no felawe- 

shipe ; 
Wel finden that Arcite and Palamoun. 
Arcite is riden anon un-to the toun, 
And on the morwe, er it were dayes 

light, 
Ful prively two barneys hath he 

dight, 1630 

Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne 
The bataille in the feeld betvvix hem 

tweyne. 
And on his hors, allone as he was born, 
He carieth al this barneys him biforn; 
And in the grove, at tyme and place y- 

set, 1635 

This Arcite and this Palamon ben met»|/ 
Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face; 
Right as the hunter in the regne of 

Trace, 
That stondeth at the gappe with a spere, 
Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere, 
And hereth him come russhing in the 

greves, 1641 

And breketh bothe bowes and the leves, 
And thinketh, * beer cometh my mortel 

enemy, 
With-oute faile, he moot be deed, or I ; 
For outher I mot sleen him at the 

gappe, 1645 






Or he mot sleen me, if that me mis. 

happe : ' 
So ferden they, in chaunging of hir hewe 
As fer as everich of hem other knewe. 
Ther nas no good day, ne no saluing; 
But streight, with-outen word or rehers 

ing, 165c 

Everich of hem halp for to armen other, 
As freendly as he were his owne brother] 
And after that, with sharpe spere 

stronge 

They foynen ech at other wonder longe. 
Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun 
In his fighting were a wood leoun, i65( 
And as a cruel tygre was Arcite : 
As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, 
That frothen whyte as foom for in 

wood. 

Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood 
And in this wyse I lete hem fightinj 

dwelle; 166; 

And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle. 

The destinee, ministre general. 
That executeth in the world over-al 
The purveyaunce, that God hath seyt 

biforn, 1661 

So strong it is, that, though the work 

had sworn 
The contrarie of a thing, by ye or nay, 
Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day 
That falleth nat eft with-inne a thousanc 

yere. 
For certeinly, our appetytes here, i67( 
Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love, 
Al is this reuled by the sighte above. 
This mene I now by mighty Theseus, 
That for to honten is so desirous. 
And namely at the grete hert in May, 167^ 
That in his bed ther daweth him no daj 
That he nis clad, and redy for to ryde 
With hunte and horn, and houndes hir 

bisyde. 
For in his hunting hath he swich delyt, 
That it is al his loye and appetyt 1 680 
To been him-self the grete hertes bane; 
For after Mars he serveth now Diane. 
Cleer was the day, as I have told ei 

this, 
And Theseus, with alle loye and blis. 
With his Ipolita, the fayre quene, 1681; 
And Emelye, clothed al in grene. 
On hunting be they riden royally. 
And to the grove, that stood ful faste by, 



1689-1766.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



23 



In which ther was an hert, as men him 

tolde, 
Duk Theseus the streiglite wey hath 

holde, 1690 

And to the launde he rydeth him ful right, 
For thider was the hert wont have his 

flight, 
And over a broolc, and so forth on his 

weye. 
This duk wol han a cours at him, or 

tweye, 
With houndes, swiche as that him list 

comaunde, 1695 

And whan this duk was come un-to the 

launde, 
Under the sonne he loketh, and anon 
He was war of Arcite and Palamon, 
That foughten breme, as it were bores 

two; 
The brighte swerdes wenten to and 

fro 1 700 

So hidously, that with the leeste strook 
It seemed as it wolde felle an 00k; 
But what they were, no-thing he ne woot. 
This duk his courser with his spores 

smoot. 
And at a stert he was bitvvix hem two, 1 705 
And pulled out a swerd and cryed, * ho ! 
Namore, up i)eyne of lesing of your heed. 
By mighty Mars, he shal anon be deed. 
That smyteth any strook, that I may 

seen ! 
But telleth me what mister men ye 

been, 1710 

That been so hardy for to fighten here 
With-outen luge or other officere, 
As it were in listes royally?' 

This Palamon answerde hastily, 
And seyde : ' sire, what nedeth wordes 

mo? 1715 

We have the deeth deserved bothe two. 
Two woful wrecches been we, two cay- 

tyves, 
That. been encombred of our owne lyves; 
And as thou art a rightful lord and luge, 
Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge, 1 720 
But slee me first, for seynte charitee; 
But slee my felavve eek as wel as me. 
Or slee him first; for, though thou knowe 

it lyte, 
This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite, 
That fro thy lond is banished on his 

heed, 1725 



For which he hath deserved to be deed. 
For this is he that cam un-to thy gate, 
And seyde, that he highte Philostrate. 
Thus hath he laped thee ful many a yeer, 
And thou has maked him thy chief 

squyer; 1730 

And this is he that loveth Emelye. 
P'or sith the day is come that I shal dye, 
I make pleynly my confessioun, 
That I am thilke woful Palamoun, 
That hath thy prison broken wik- 

kedly. ' 1735 

I am thy mortal fo, and it am I 
That loveth so bote Emelye the brighte. 
That I wol dye present in hir sighte. 
Therfore I axe deeth and my luwyse; 
But slee my felawe in the same wyse, 1740 
For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.' 

This worthy duk answerde anon agayn, 
And seyde, *This is a short conclusioun : 
Youre owne mouth, by your confessioun. 
Hath dampned you, and I wol it re- 

corde, 1745 

It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the 

corde. 
Ye shul be deed, by mighty Mars the 

rede ! ' 
The quene anon, for verray womman- 

hede 
Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye, 
And alle the ladies in the companye. 1750 
Gret pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle, 
That ever swich a chaunce sholde falle; 
For gentil men they were, of greet estat. 
And no-thing but for love was this debat; 
And sawe hir blody woundes wyde and 

sore 1755 

And alle cryden, bothe lasse and more, 
' Have mercy, lord, up-on us wommen 

alle ! ' 
And on hir bare knees adoun they falle. 
And wolde have kist his feet ther-as he 

stood, 1759 

Til at the laste aslaked was his mood; 
For pitee renneth sone in gentil herte. 
And though he first for ire quook and 

sterte. 
He hath considered shortly, in a clause, 
The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the 

cause : 
And al-though that his ire hir gilt ac- 
cused, 1765 
Yet in his reson he hem bothe excused; 



24 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1 767-1849. 



As thus : he thoghte wel, that every man 
Wol helpe him-self in love, if that he can, 
And eek dehvere him-self out of prisoun; 
And eek his herte had compassioun 1 770 
Of wommen, for they wepen ever in oon; 
And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon, 
And softe un-to himself he seyde : ' fy 
Up-on a lord that v^^ol have no mercy, 
But been a leoun, bothe in word and 

dede, 1775 

To hem that been in repentaunce and 

drede 
As wel as to a proud despitous man 
That wol maynteyne that he first bigan ! 
That lord hath litel of discrecioun. 
That in swich cas can no divisioun, 17S0 
But weyeth pryde and humblesse after 

oon.' 
And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon, 
He gan to loken up with eyen lighte. 
And spak thise same wordes al on 

highte : — 
'The god of love, a! benedicite, 1 785 
How mighty and how greet a lord is he ! 
Ayeins his might ther gayneth none 

obstacles. 
He may be cleped a god for his miracles; 
For he can maken at his owne gyse 
Of everich herte, as that him list de- 

vyse. 1790 

Lo heer, this Arcite and this Palamoun, 
That quitly weren out of my prisoun. 
And mighte han lived in Thebes royally. 
And witen I am hir mortal enemy. 
And that hir deeth lyth in my might 

also, 1795 

And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two, 
Y-broght hem hider bothe for to dye ! 
Now loketh, is nat that an heigh folye? 
Who may been a fool, but-if he love? 
Bihold, for Goddes sake that sit above, 
Se how they blede ! be they noght wel 

arrayed? 1 80 1 

Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, y- 

payed 
Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse ! 
And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse 
That serven love, for aught that may 

bifalle! 1805 

But this is yet the beste game of alle, 
That she, for whom they han this lolitee. 
Can hem ther-for as muche thank as me; 
She woot namore of al this hote fare, 



By God, than woot a cokkow or an 

hare! 1810 

But al mot been assayed, hoot and cold; 
A man mot been a fool, or yong or old; 
I woot it by my-self ful yore agoon : 
For in my tyme a servant was 1 oon. 
And therfore, sin I knowe of loves 

peyne, 1815 

And woot how sore it can a man dis- 

treyne. 
As he that hath ben caught ofte in his 

las, 
I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespas. 
At requeste of the quene that kneleth 

here. 
And eek of Emelye, my suster dere. 1 820 
And ye shul bothe anun un-to me swere. 
That never-mo ye shul my contree dere, 
Ne make werre up-on me night ne day. 
But been my freendes in al that ye may; 
I yow foryeve this trespas every del.' 1825 
And they him swore his axing fayre and 

wel. 
And him of lordshipe and of mercy 

preyde, 
And he hem graunteth grace, and thus 

he seyde : 
* To speke of royal linage and richesse, 
Though that she were a quene or a prin- 

cesse, 1830 

Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees. 
To wedden whan tyme is, but nathelees 
I speke as for my suster Emelye, 
For whom ye have this stryf and I^lousye; 
Ye woot your-self, she may not wedden 

two 1835 

At ones, though ye fighten ever-mo : 
That oon of yow, al be him looth or leef, 
He moot go pypen in an ivy-leef; 
This is to seyn, she may nat now han 

bothe, 1839 

Al be ye never so lelous, ne so wrothe. 
And for-thy I yow putte in this degree, 
That ech of yow shal have his destinee 
As him is shape; and herkneth in what 

wyse; 
Lo, heer your ende of that I shal devyse. 

My wil is this, for plat conclusioun, 
With-outen any replicacioun, 1846 

If that yow lyketh, tak it for the beste. 
That everich of yow shal gon wher him 

leste 
Frely, with-outen raunson or daunger; 



[850-1931.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



25 



And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner, 1850 
Everich of yow shal bringe an hundred 

knightes, 
Armed for listes up at alle rightes, 
Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille. 
And this bihote I yow, with-outen faille, 
Up-on my trouthe, and as I am a knight, 
That whether of yow bothe that hath 

might, 1856 

This is to seyn, that whether he or thou 
May with his hundred, as I spak of now, 
Sleen his contrarie, or out of listes dryve. 
Him shal I yeve Emelya to wyve, i860 
To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a 

grace. 
The listes shal I maken in this place. 
And God so wisly on my soule rewe. 
As I shal even luge been and trewe. 
Ye shul non other ende with me maken, 
That oon of yow ne shal be deed or 

taken. 1866 

And if yow thinketh this is wel y-sayd, 

Seyeth your avys, and holdeth yow apayd. 

This is your ende and your conclusioun.' 

Who loketh lightly now but Pala- 

moun? 1870 

Who spiingeth up for loye but Arcite? 
Who couthe telle, or who couthe it en- 

dyte, 
The loye that is maked in the place 
Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace? 
But doun on knees wente every maner 

wight, 1875 

And thanked him with al her herte and 

might, 
And namely the Thebans ofte sythe. 
And thus with good hope and with herte 

blythe 
They take hir leve, and hom-ward gonne 

they ryde 1879 

To Thebes, with his olde walles wyde. 

Explicit seciinda pars. Secjiiitiir pars 
tercia. 



j I trowe men wolde deme it necligence. 
If I foryete to tellen the dispence 
Of Theseus, that goth so bisily 
To maken up the listes royally; 
That swich a noble theatre as it was, 1885 
I dar wel seyn that in this world ther 

nas. 
The circuit a myle was aboute, 



Walled of stoon, and diched al with- 

oute. 1888 

Round was the shap, in maner of compas, 
Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas. 
That, whan a man was set on o degree. 
He letted nat his felawe for to see. 

Est-ward ther stood a gate of marbel 

whyt. 
West-ward, right swich another in the 

opposit. 1894 

And shortly to concluden, swich a place 
Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space; 
For in the lond ther nas no crafty man. 
That geometric or ars-metrik can, 
Ne purtreyour, ne kerver of images. 
That Theseus ne yaf him mete and 

wages 1900 

The theatre for to maken and devyse. 
And for to doon his ryte and sacrifyse. 
He est-ward hath, up-on the gate above, 
In worship of Venus, goddesse of love, 
Don make an auter and an oratorie; 1905 
And west-ward, in the minde and in 

memorie 
Of Mars, he maked hath right swich 

another. 
That coste largely of gold a fother. 
And north-ward, in a touret on the wal, 
Of alabastre whyt and reed coral 1910 
An oratorie riche for to see, 
In worship of Dyane of chastitee. 
Hath Theseus don wroght in noble wyse. 

But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse 
The noble kerving, and the portreitures, 
The shap, the countenaunce, and the 

figures, 1916 

That weren in t 
NXFirst in the t 
^^ see 
Wroght on the v 
The broken slep 

The sacred teres, - ..ci^uieniing; 

The fyry strokes of the desiring, 1922 
That loves servaunts in this lyf enduren; 
The othes, that hir covenants assuren; 
Plesaunce and hope, desyr, fool-hardi- 

nesse, 1925 

Beautee and youthe, bauderie, richesse, 
Charmes and force, lesinges, flaterye, 
Dispense, bisynesse, and lelousye. 
That wered of yelwe goldes a gerland, 
And a cokkow sitting on hir hand; 1930 
Festes, instruments, caroles, daunces, 



26 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1932-2007. 



Lust and array, and alle the circum- 

staunces 
Of love, whiche that I rekne and rekne 

shal, 
By ordre weren peynted on the wal, 1934 
And mo than I can make of mencioun. 
P\)r soothly, al the mount of Citheroun, 
Ther Venus hath hir principal dwelling, 
Was shewed on the wal in portreying, 
With al the gardin, and the lustinesse. 
Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, 
Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon, 1941 
Ne yet the folye of king Salamon, 
Ne yet the grete strengthe of Hercules — 
Thenchauntements of Medea and Circes — 
Ne of Turnus, with the hardy hers corage. 
The riche Cresus, caytif in servage. 1946 
Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne rich- 

esse, 
Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe, ne hardi- 

nesse, 
Ne may with Venus holde champartye; 
For as hir list the world than may she 

gye. 1950 

Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir 

las, 
Til they for wo ful ofte seyde ' alias ! ' 
Suffyceth heer ensamples oon or two, 
And though I coude rekne a thousand 

mo. 
The statue of Venus, glorious for to 

see, 1955 

Was naked Acting in the large see, 
And fro the navele doun all covered was 
With wawes grene, and brighte as any 

glas. 
A citole in hir right hand hadde she, 1959 
And on hir heed, ful semely for to see, 
A rose gerland, fresh and wel sniellinge; 
Above hir heed hir dowves flikeringe. 
Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido, 
Up-on his shuldres winges hadde he two; 
And blind he was, as it is ofte sene; 
A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and 

kene. 1966 

Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle 

yow al 
The portreiture, that was up-on the wal 
With-inne the temple of mighty Mars the 

rede? 
Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and 

brede, 1970 

Lyk to the estres of the grisly place, 



That highte the grete temple of Mars in 

Trace, 
In thilke colde frosty regioun, 
Ther-as Mars hath his sovereyn man- 

sioun. 
First on the wal was peynted a foreste. 
In which ther dwelleth neither man ne 

beste, 1976 

With knotty knarry bareyn trees olde 
Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to biholde; 
In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough. 
As though a storm sholde bresten every 

bough : 1980 

And downward from an hille, under a 

bente, 
Ther stood the temple of Mars arniipo- 

tente, 
Wroght al of burned steel, of which 

thentree 
Was long and streit, and gastly for to see. 
And ther-out cam a rage and such a 

vese, 1985 

That it made al the gates for to rese. 
The northren light in at the dores shoon, 
For windowe on the wal ne was ther 

noon, 
Thurgh which men mighten any light dis- 

cerne. 
The dores were alle of adamant eterne, 
Y-clenched overthwart and endelong 199I 
With iren tough; and, for to make it 

strong. 
Every piler, the temple to sustene. 
Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and 

shene. 
Ther saugh I first the derke imagin- 
ing 1995 
Of felonye, and al the compassing; 
The cruel ire, reed as any glede; 
The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede; 
The smyler with the knyf under the cloke; 
The shepne brenning with the blake 

smoke; 200G 

The treson of the mordring in the bedde; 
The open werre, with woundes al bi- 

bledde ; 
Contek, with blody knyf and sharp man- 
ace; 
Al ful of chirking was that sory place. 
The sleere of him-self yet saugh I ther. 
His herte-blood hath bathed al his 

heer; 2006 

The nayl y-driven in the shode a-night; 



2oo8-2o86.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



27 



The colde deeth, with mouth gaping up- 
right. 

Amiddes of the temple sat meschaunce, 

With disconfort and sory contenaunce. 

Yet saugli 1 woodnesse laughing in his 
rage; 201 1 

Armed compleint, out-hees, and fiers out- 
rage. 

in the bush, with throte y- 



slayn, and nat of qualm 
with the prey by 



force 



2015 
ther was no-thing 



The careyne 

corve : 
A thousand 

y-storve; 
The tiraunt, 

y-raft; 
The toun destroyed, 

laft. 
Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppes- 

teres; 
The hunte strangled with the wilde beres : 
The sowe freten the child right in the 

cradel; 
The cook y-scalded, for al his longe 

ladel. 2020 

^Noght was foryeten by the infortune of 

Marte; 
The carter over-riden with his carte. 
Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun. 
Ther were also, of Martes divisioun. 
The harbour, and the bocher, and the 

smith 2025 

That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith. 
And al above, depeynted in a tour, 
Saw I conquest sittinge in greet honour. 
With the sharpe swerde over his heed 
Hanginge by a sotil twynes threed, 2030 
Depeynted was the slaughtre of lulius. 
Of grete Nero, and of Antonius; 
Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn. 
Yet was hir decth depeynted ther-biforn. 
By manasinge of Mars, right by fig- 
ure; 2035 
So was it shewed in that portreiture 
As is depeynted in the sterres above, 
Who shal l:e slayn or elles deed for love. 
Suffyceth oon ensample in stories olde, 
I may not rekne hem alle, thogh I 

vvolde. 2040 

The statue of Mars up-on a carte stood, 
Armed, and loked grim as he were wood ; 
And over his heed ther shynen two figures 
Of sterres, that ben cleped in scriptures, 
That oon Paella, that other Rubcus. 2045 
This god of amies was arrayed thus : — 



A wolf ther stood biforn him at his feet 
With eyen rede, and of a man he eet ; 
With sotil pencel was depeynt this storie, 
In redoutinge of Mars and of his glorie. 
Now to the temple of Diane the 

chaste 2051 

As shortly as I can I wol me haste, 
To telle yow al the descripcioun. 
Depeynted been the walles up and doun 
Of hunting and of shamfast chastitee. 2055 
Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee, 
Whan that Diane agreved was with here, 
W^as turned from a womman til a here, 
And after was she maad the lode-sterre; 
Thus was it peynt, I can say yow no 

ferre ; 2060 

Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may 

see. 
Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, 
I mene nat the goddesse Diane, 
But Penneus doughter, which that highte 

Dane. 
Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked. 
For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al 

naked; 2066 

I saugh how that his houndes have him 

caught. 
And freten him, for that they knewe him 

naught. 
Yet peynted was a litel forther-moor. 
How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, 
And Meleagre, and many another mo. 
For which Diane wroghte him care and 

wo. 2072 

Ther saugh I many another wonder storie, 
The whiche me list nat drawen to mem- 

orie. 
This goddesse on an hert ful hye 

sect, 2075 

With smale houndes al aboute hir feet; 
And undernethe hir feet she hadde a 

mone, 
Wexing it was, and sholde wanie sone. 
In gaude grene hir statue clothed was, 
With bowe in honde, and arwes in a 

cas. 2080 

Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun, 
Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. 
A womman travailinge was hir biforn, 
But, for hir child so longe was unborn, 
Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle, 2085 
And seyde, ' help, for thou mayst best of 

alle.' 



28 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2087-2160. 



Wei couthe he peynten lyfly that it 

wroghte, 
With many a florin he the hevves boghte. 
Now been thise listes maad, and The- 
seus, 
That at his grete cost arrayed thus 2090 
The temples and the theatre every del, 
Whan it was doon, him lyked wonder 

wel. 
But stinte I wol of Theseus a lyte, 
And speke of Palamon and of Arcite. 
The day approcheth of hir retourn- 

inge, 2095 

That everich sholde an hundred knightes 

bringe. 
The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde; 
And til Athenes, hir covenant for to holde. 
Hath everich of hem broght an hundred 

knightes 
Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes. 
And sikerly, ther trowed many a man 2101 
That never, sithen that the world bigan, 
As for to speke of knighthod of hir 

hond, 
As fer as God hath maked see or lond, 
Nas, of so fewe, so noble a com- 

panye. 2105 

For every wight that lovede chivalrye, 
And wolde, his thankes, han a passant 

name, 
Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that 

game ; 
And wel was him, that ther-to chosen 

was. 
For if ther tille to-morwe swich a 

cas, 21 10 

Ye knowen wel, that every lusty knight. 
That loveth paramours, and hath his 

might. 
Were it in Engelond, or elles-where. 
They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be 
^ there. 

'10 fighte for a lady, benedicite ! 21 15 
It were a lusty sighte for to see. 

And right so ferden they with Palamon. 
With him ther wenten knightes many 

oon; 
Som wol ben armed in an habergeoun. 
In a brest-plat and in a light gipoun; 
And som me woln have a peyre plates 

large; 2121 

And somme woln have a Pruce sheld, or 

a targe; 



Somme woln ben armed on hir legges 

weel. 
And have an ax, and somme a mace of 

steel. 
Ther nis no newe gyse, that it nas 

old. 2125 

Armed were they, as I have you told, 
Everich after his opinioun, 

Ther maistow seen coming with Pala- 

moun 
Ligurge him-self, the grete king of Trace; 
Blak was his berd, and manly was his 

face. 2130 

The cercles of his eyen in his heed. 
They gloweden bitwixe yelow and reed; 
And lyk a griffon loked he aboute, 
With kempe heres on his browes 

stoute; 
His lim.es grete, his braunes harde and 

stronge, 2135 

His shuldres brode, his armes rounde 

and longe. 
And as the gyse was in his contree, 
Ful hye up-on a char of gold stood he, 
With foure whyte boles in the trays. 
In-stede of cote-armure over his harnays. 
With nayles yelwe and brighte as any 

gold, 2141 

He hadde a beres skin, col-blak, for-old. 
His longe heer was kembd bihinde his 

bak. 
As any ravenes fether it shoon for-blak : 
A wrethe of gold arm-greet, of huge 

wighte, 2145 

Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte. 
Of fyne rubies and of dyamaunts. 
Aboute his char ther wenten whyte 

alaunts. 
Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer. 
To hunten at the leoun or the deer, 2150 
And folwed him, with mosel faste y- 

bounde, 
Colers of gold, and torets fyled rounde. 
An hundred lordes hadde he in his 

route 
Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and 

stoute. 2154 

With Arcita, in stories as men finde. 
The grete Emetreus, the king of Inde, 
Up-on a stede bay, trapped in steel. 
Covered in cloth of gold diapred weel 
Cam ryding lyk the god of armes. Mars. 
His cote-armure was of cloth of Tars, 



2161-2234-] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



29 



Couched with perlcs whyte and rounde 

and grete, 2i6i 

His sadel was of brend gold newe y- 

bete; 
A mantelet upon his shuldre hanginge 
Bret-ful of rubies rede, as fyr sparklinge. 
His crispe heer lyk ringes was y-ronne, 
And that was yelow, and glitered as the 

Sonne. 2166 

His nose was heigh, his eyen bright 

citryn, 
His lippes rounde, his colour was sang- 

wyn, 
A fewe fraknes in his face y-spreynd, 
Betwixen yelow and somdel blak y- 

meynd, 2170 

And as a leoun he his loking caste. 
Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste. 
His herd waswel bigonne for to springe; 
His voys was as a trompe thunderinge. 
Up-on his heed he wered of laurer 

grene 2175 

A gerland fresh and lusty for to sene. 
Up-on his hand he bar, for his deduyt, 
An egle tame, as eny lilie whyt. 
An hundred lordes hadde he with him 

there, 
Al armed, sauf hir heddes, in al hir 

gere, 2180 

Ful richely in alle maner thinges. 
For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles, 

kinges, 
Were gadered in this noble companye, 
For -love and for encrees of chivalrye. 
Aboute this king ther ran on every 

part 2185 

Ful many a tame leoun and lepart. 
And in this wyse thise lordes, alle and 

some, 
Ben on the Sonday to the citee come 
Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight. 
This Theseus, this duk, this worthy 

knight, 2190 

Whan he had broght hem in-to his citee, 
And inned hem, everich in his degree, 
He festeth hem, and dooth so greet 

labour 
To esen hem, and doon hem al honour. 
That yet men weneth that no mannes 

wit 2195 

Of noon estat ne coude amenden it. 
The minstralcye, the service at the feste, 
The grete yiftes to the moste and leste, 



The riche array of Theseus paleys, 
Ne who sat first ne last up-on the deys, 
What ladies fairest been or best daun- 

singe, 2201 

Or which of hem can dauncen best and 

singe, 
Ne who most felingly speketh of love : 
What haukes sitten on the perche above, 
What houndes liggen on the floor 

adoun : 2205 

Of al this make I now no mencioun; 
But al theffect, that thinketh me the 

beste; 
Now comth the poynt, and herkneth if 
/-i_u;»..yow leste. 

The Sonday night, er day bigan to--i^ 

springe, 
When Palamon the larke herde singe, 
Although it nere nat day by houres 

two, 221 1 

Yet song the larke, and Palamon also. 
With holy herte, and with an heigh 

corage 
He roos, to wenden on his pilgrimage 
Un-to the blisful Citherea benigne, 2215 
I mene Venus, honurable and digne. 
And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas 
Un-to the listes, ther hir temple was, 
And doun he kneleth, and with humble 

chere 
And herte soor, he seyde as ye shul 

here. 2220 

* Faireste of faire, o lady myn, Venus, 
Doughter to love and spouse of Vul- 

canus, 
Thou glader of the mount of Citheroun, 
For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun, 
Have pitee of my bittre teres smerte, 
And tak myn humble preyer at thyn 

herte. 2226 

Alias ! I ne have no langage to telle 
Theffectes ne the torments of myn 

helle; 
Myn herte may myne harmes nat bi- 

wreye ; 
I am so confus, that I can noght seye. 
But mercy, lady bright, that knowest 

weel 2231 

My thought, and seest what harmes that 

I feel, 
Considere al this, and rewe up-on my 

sore. 
As wisly as I shal for evermore, 



30 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2235-2318. 



Emforth my might, thy trewe servant 

be, 2235 

And holden werre alvvey with chastitee; 
That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe. 
I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, 
Ne I ne axe nat to-morwe to have vic- 

torie, 2239 

Ne renoun in this cas, ne vcyne glorie 
Of pris of armes bk)\ven up and doun. 
But I wokle have fully possessioun 
Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse; 
Find thou the maner how, and in what 

wyse. 
I recche nat, l^ut it may bettre be, 2245 
To have victorie of hem, or they of me, 
So that I have my lady in myne armes. 
For though so be that Mars is god of 

armes 
Your vertu is so greet in hevene above, 
That, if yow list, I shal wel have my 

love. 2250 

Thy temple wol I worshipe evermo. 
And on thyn auter, wher I ryde or go, 
I wol don sacrifice, and fyres bete. 
And if ye wol nat so, my lady swete, 
Than preye I thee, to-morwe with a 

spere 2255 

That Arcita me thurgh the herte here. 
Thanne rekke I noght, whan 1 have lost 

my lyf, 
Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf. 
This is theffect and ende of my preyere, 
Yif me my love, thou blisful lady dere.' 

Whan thorisoun was doon of Palamon, 
His sacrifice he dide, and that anon 2262 
Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces, 
Al telle I noght as now his observaunces. 
But atte laste the statue of Venus 

shook, 2265 

And made a signe, wher-by that he took 
That his preyere accepted was that day. 
For thogh the signe shewed a delay, 
Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his 

bone; 
And with glad herte he wente him hoom 

ful sone. 2270 

The thridde houre inequal that Pala- 

moun 
Bigan to Venus temple for to goon, 
Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye, 
And to the temple of Diane gan hye. 
Hir maydens, that she thider with hir 

ladde, 2275 



Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde, 
Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al 
That to the sacrifyce longen shal; 2278 
The homes fuUe of meth, as was the gyse; 
Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifyse. 
Smoking the temple, ful of clothes faire, 
This Emelye, with herte debonaire, 
Hir body wessh with water of a welle; 
But how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle. 
But it be any thing in general; 2285 

And yet it were a game to heren al; 
To him that meneth wel, it were no 

charge : 
But it is good a man ben at his large. 
Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al; 
A coroune of a grene ook cerial 2290 
Up-on hir heed was set ful fair and mete. 
Two fyres on the auter gan she bete, 
And dide hir thinges, as men may biholde 
In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde. 
Whan kindled was the fyr, with pitous 

chere 2295 

Un-to Diane she spak, as ye may here. 

* O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene, 
To whom bothe hevene and erthe and 

see is sene, 
Quene of the regne of Pluto derk and 

lowe, 
Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte 

hast knowe 2300 

Ful many a yeer, and woost what I 

desire, 
As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn 

ire. 
That Attheon aboughte cruelly. 
Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I 
Desire to been a mayden al my lyf, 2305 
Ne never wol I be no love ne wyf. 
I am, thou woost, yet of thy companye, 
A mayde, and love hunting and venerye, 
And for to walken in the wodes wilde, 
And noght to been a wyf, and be with 

childe. 2310 

Noght wol I knowe companye of man. 
Now help me, lady, sith ye may and can-. 
For tho thre formes that thou hast in 

thee. 
And Palamon, that hath swich love to 

me, 2314 

And eek Arcite, that loveth me so sore, 
This grace 1 preye thee with-oute more, 
As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two; 
And fro me turne awey hir hertes so, 



23I9-2394-] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



31 



That al hir bote love, and hir desyr, 
And al hir bisy torment, and hir fyr 2320 
Be queynt, or turned in another place; 
And if so be thou wolt not do me grace. 
Or if my destinee be shapen so, 
That I shal nedes have oon of hem two, 
As sende me him that most desireth me. 
Bihold, goddesse of clene chastitee, 2326 
The bittre teres that on my chekes falle. 
Sin thou are mayde, and keper of us 

alle, 
My maydenhede thou kepe and wel con- 
serve. 
And whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee 

serve.' 2330 

The fyres brenne up-on the auter clere, 
Whyl Emelye was thus in hir preyere; 
But sodeinly she saugh a sighte queynte, 
For right anon oon of the fyres queynte, 
A.nd quiked agayn, and after that anon 
rhat other fyr was queynt, and al agon; 
A.nd as it queynte, it made a whistelinge, 
A.S doon thise wete brondes in hir bren- 
1 ninge, 2338 

|!\nd at the brondes ende out-ran anoon 
iAs it were blody dropes many oon; 
^or which so sore agast was Emelye, 
rhat she was wel ny mad, and gan to 

crye, 
'or she ne wiste what it signifyed ; 
But only for the fere thus hath she 

cryed, 
\.nd weep, that it was pitee for to 

here. 2345 

Vnd ther-with-al Diane gan appere, 
(Vith bowe in hond, right as an hunter- 

esse, 
Vnd seyde: 'Doghter, stint thyn hevi- 

nesse. 
\.mong the goddes hye it is affermed, 
■ind by eterne word write and con- 

fermed, 2350 

phou shalt ben wedded un-to oon of 

['hat han for thee so muchel care and 
i wo; 

:»ut un-to which of hem I may nat telle. 

arwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle. 

'^- fyres which that on myn auter 



'he 



j brenne 

jhul thee declaren, er that 

henne 
'hyn aventure of love, as in this cas. 



2355 
thou go 



And with that word, the arwes in the 

cas 
Of the goddesse clateren faste and ringe. 
And forth she wente, and made a van- 

isshinge; 2360 

For which this Emelye astoned was, 
And seyde, ' What amounteth this, alias ! 
I putte me in thy proteccioun, 
Diane, and in thy disposicioun.' 
And hoom she gooth anon the nexte 

weye. 2365 

This is theffect, ther is namore to seye. 
The nexte houre of Mars folwinge 

this 
Arcite un-to the temple walked is 
Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifyse. 
With alle the rytes of his payen 

wyse. 2370 

With pitous herte and heigh devocioun. 
Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun : 
'O stronge god, that in the regnes 

colde 
Of Trace honoured art, and lord y-holde, 
And hast in every regne and every 



lond 



2375 



Of amies al the l^rydel in thyn hond, 
And hem fortunest as thee list devyse, 
Accept of me my pitous sacrifyse. 
If so be that my youthe may deserve, 
And that my might be worthy for to 

serve 2380 

Thy godhede, that I may been oon of 

thyne. 
Than preye I thee to rewe up-on my 

pyne. 
For thilke peyne, and thilke bote fyr, 
In which thou whylom brendest for 

desyr. 
Whan that thou usedest the grete 

beautee 2385 

Of fayre yonge fresshe Venus free, 
And haddest hir in armes at thy wille, 
Al-though thee ones on a tyme misfille 
Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his 

las, 
And fond thee ligging by his wyf, 



alias ! 



2390 



For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte, 
Have routhe as wel up-on my peynes 

smerte. 
I am yong and unkonning, as thou wost, 
And, as I trowe, with love offended 

most, 



32 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2395-2477. 



That ever was any lyves creature; 2395 
For she, that dooth me al this wo 

endure, 
Ne reccheth never wher I sinke or flete. 
And wel I woot, er she me mercy hete, 
I moot with strengthe winne hir in the 

place ; 
And wel I woot, Avithouten help or grace 
Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght 

availle. 2401 

Than help me, lord, to-morwe in my 

bataille. 
For thilke fyr that whylom brente thee, 
As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me; 
And do that I to-morwe have victorie. 
Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the 

glorie ! 2406 

Thy soverein temple wol I most honouren 
Of any place, and alwey most labouren 
In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes 

stronge, 
And in thy temple I wol my baner 

honge, 2410 

And alle the armes of my companye; 
And evere-mo, un-to that day I dye, 
Eterne fyr 1 wol biforn thee flnde. 
And eek to this avow I wol me binde: 
My herd, myn heer that hongeth long 

adoun, 2415 

That never yet ne felte offensioun 
Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive, 
And ben thy trewe servant whyl I live. 
Now lord, have routhe up-on my sorwes 

sore, 
Yif me victorie, I aske thee namore.' 2420 
The preyere stinte of Arcita the stronge. 
The ringes on the temple-dore that 

honge, 
And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste, 
Of which Arcita som-what him agaste. 
The fyres brende up-on the auter 

brighte, 2425 

That it gan al the temple for to lighte; 
And swete smel the ground anon up-yaf, 
And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, 
And more encens in-to the fyr he caste, 
With othere rytes mo ; and atte laste 2430 
The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk 

ringe. 
And with that soun he herde a murmur- 

inge 
Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus, ' Vic- 
torie ' : 



For which he yaf to Mars honour and 

gluric. 
And thus with loye, and hope wel to 

fare, _ _ 2435 

Arcite anon un-to his inne is fare, 
As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne. 
And right anon swich stryf ther is 

bigonne 
For thilke graunting, in the hevene 

above, 
Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love, 2440 
And Mars, the sterne god armipotente. 
That lupiter was bisy it to stente; 
Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, 
That knew so manye of aventures olde. 
Fond in his olde experience an art, 2445 
That he ful sone hath plesed every part. 
As sooth is sayd, elde hath greet avantage; 
In elde is bothe wisdom and usage; 
Men may the olde at-renne, and noght at- 

rede. 2449 

Saturne anon, to stinten stryf and drede, 
Al be it that it is agayn his kynde. 
Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde. 

' My dere doghter Venus,' quod Saturne, 
* My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, 
Hath more power than wot any man. 2455 
Myn is the drenching in the see so wan; 
Myn is the prison in the derke cote; 
Myn is the strangling and hanging by the 

throte; 
The murmure, and the cherles rebelling, 
The groyning, and the pryvee empoyson- 

ing : 2460 

I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun 
Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun. , 
Myn is the ruine of the hye halles. 
The falling of the toures and of the walles 
Up-on the mynour or the carpenter. 2465 
I slow Sampsoun in shaking the piler; 
And myne be the maladyes colde. 
The derke tresons, and the castes olde; 
My loking is the fader of pestilence. 
Now weep namore, I shal doon dili- 
gence 2470 
That Palamon, that is thyn owne knight, : 
Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight. t 
Though Mars shal helpe his knight, yet 

nathelees 
Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees, 
Al be ye noght of o complexioun, 2475 
That causeth al day swich divisioun. 
1 am thin ayel, redy at thy wille; 



^478-2548.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



33 



VVeep thou namore, I wol thy lust ful- 

fille.' 
Now wol I stinten of the goddes above, 
Df Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of 

love, 2480 

\nd telle yovv, as pleynly as I can, 
,rhe gvete effect, for which that I bigan. 

^xplicit tercia pars. Sequiitir pars 
"- quarta. 



r„ 



Greet was the feste in Athenes that 
day, 
Lnd eek the lusty seson of that May 
iviade every wight to been in swich ple- 
1; saunce, 2485 

t'hat al that Monday lusten they and 
I daunce, 

\nd spenden it in Venus heigh servyse. 
Jut by the cause that they sholde ryse 
Crly, for to seen the grete fight, 
IfJnto hir reste wente they at night. 2490 
'vnd on the morwe, whan that day gan 
I springe, 

pf hors and barneys, noyse and clateringe 
:^her w's in hostelryes al aboute; 
ind to che paleys rood ther many a route 
,)f lordes, up-on stedes and palfreys. 2495 
I'her maystow seen devysing of herneys "^ 
lie uncouth and so riche, and wroght so 
1 we el 
[)f goldsmithrie, of browding, and of 

steel; 
The sheeldes brighte, testers, and trap- 
i pures; 

;5old-hewen helmes, hauberks, cote- 
i ar mures; 2500 

..ordes in paraments on hir courseres, 
^nightes of retenue, and eek squyeres 
■Jailinge the speres, and helmes boke- 

jigginge of sheeldes, with layneres lac- 

inge; 
,'her as need is, they weren no -thing 
i ydel ; 2505 

'^he fomy stedes on the golden brydel 
jnawinge, and faste the armurers also 
.Vith fyle and hamer prikinge to and fro; 
7emen on fote, and communes many oon 
[A^ith shorte staves, thikke as they may 

goon; 2510 

\vpes, trompes, nakers, clariounes, 
That in the bataille blowen blody sounes; 



The paleys ful of peples up and doun, 
Heer three, ther ten, holding hir ques- 

tioun, 
Divyninge of thise Thebane knightes 

two. 2515 

Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal 

be so; 
Somme helden with him with the blake 

berd, 
Somme with the balled, somme with the 

thikke-herd; 
Somme sayde, he loked grim and he 

wolde fighte; 
He hath a sparth of twenty pound of 

wighte. 2520 

Thus was the halle ful of divyninge, 
Longe after that the Sonne gan to springe. 
The grete Theseus, that of his sleep 

awaked 
With minstralcye and noyse that was 

maked, 
Held yet the chambre of his paleys 

riche, 2525 

Til that the Thebane knightes, bothe y- 

liche 
Honoured, were into the paleys fet. 
Duk Theseus was at a window set. 
Arrayed right as he were a god in trone. 
The peple preesseth thider-ward ful 

sone 2530 

Him for to seen, and doon heigh rever- 
ence, 
And eek to herkne his hest and his sen- 
tence. 
An heraud on a scaffold made an ho, 
Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do; 
And whan he saugh the peple of noyse 

al stille, 2535 

Tho showed he the mighty dukes wille. 

' The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun 
Considered, that it were destruccioun 
To gentil blood, to fighten in the gyse 
Of mortal bataille now in this empryse; 
Wherfore, to shapen that they shul not 

dye, 2541 

He wol his firste purpos modifye. 
No man therfor, up peyne of los of lyf. 
No maner shot, ne pollax, ne short knyf 
Into the listes sende, or thider bringe; 
Ne short swerd for to stoke, with poynt 

bytinge, 2546 

No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde. 
Ne no man shall un-to his felawe ryde 



34 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2549-261 



» 



But o cours, with a sharp y-grounde 

spere; 
Foyne, if him Hst, on fote, him- self to 

were. 2550 

And he that is at meschief, shal be take, 
And noght slayn, but be broght un-to 

the stake 
That shal ben ordeyned on either syde; 
But thider he shal by force, and ther 

abyde. 2554 

And if so falle, the chieftayn be take 
On either syde, or elles slee his make. 
No lenger shall the turneyinge laste. 
God spede yow; goth forth, and ley on 

faste. 
With long swerd and with maces fight 

your fiUe. 
Goth now your wey; this is the lordes 

wille.' 2560 

The voys of peple touchede the 

hevene, 
So loude cryden they with mery stevene : 
* God save swich a lord, that is so good, 
He wilneth no destruccioun of blood ! ' 
Up goon the trompes and the melo- 

dye. 2565 

ii.nd to the listes rit the companye 
By ordinaunce, thurgh-out the citee 

large. 
Hanged with cloth of gold, and nat with 

sarge. 
Ful lyk a lord this noble duk gan ryde, 
Thise two Thebanes up-on either 

syde; 2570 

And after rood the/quene, and Emelye, 
And after that another companye 
Of oon and other, after hir degree. 
And thus they passen thurgh-out the 

citee, 2574 

And to the listes come they by tyme. 
It nas not of the day yet fully pryme. 
Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, 
Ipolita the queue and Emelye, 
And other ladies in degrees aboute. 
Un-to the seetes preesseth al the route. 
And west-ward, thurgh the gates under 

Marte, 2581 

Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte, 
With baner reed is entred right anon; 
And in that selve moment Palamon 
Is under Venus, est-ward in the place, 
With baner whyt, and hardy chere and 

face. 2586 



In al the world, to seken up and doun, 
So even with-outen variacioun, 
Ther nere swiche companyes tweye, 
P'or ther nas noon so wys that coude i 

seye, 2590 

That any hadde of other avauntage 
Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age. 
So even were they chosen, for to gesse. j) 
And in two renges faire they hem dresse.)' 
Whan that hir names rad were ever- ■ 

ichoon, 2595 c 

That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon, 1 
Tho were the gates shet, and cryed was ; 

loude : S. 
' Do now yoilr devoir, yonge knightes : 

proude ! ' 
The heraudes lefte hir priking up and 

doun; 
Now ringen trompes loude and clarioun; ; 
Ther is namore to seyn, but west and 

est 2601 

In goon the speres ful sadly in arest; 
In goth the sharpe spore in-to the syde. 
Ther seen men who can luste, and who 

can ryde; 
Ther shiveren shaftes up-on sheeldes 

thikke; 2605 

He feleth thurgh the herte-spoon the 

prikke. 
Up springen speres twenty foot on 

highte; 
Out goon the swerdes as the silver 

brighte. 
The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede; 
Out brest the blood, with sterne stremes : 

rede. 2610 

With mighty maces the bones they to- 

breste. 
He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng 

gan threste. 
Ther stomblen stedes stronge, and doun 

goth al. 
He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal. 
He foyneth on his feet with his tron- 

choun, 2615 

And he him hurtleth with his hors 

adoun. 
He thurgh the body is hurt, and sithen 

y-take, 
Maugree his heed, and broght un-to the 

stake. 
As forward was, right ther he moste 

abyde; 



,2620-2698.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



35 



Another lad is on that other syde. 2620 
i\nd som tyme dooth hem Theseus to 

reste, 
[Hem to refresshe, and drinken if hem 
I leste. 

\F\i\ ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two 
iFcgidre y-met, and wroght his felavve 
Iji wo ; 

Pnhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. 
iFher nas no tygre in the vale of Galgo- 
j pheye, 2626 

*vVhan that hir whelp is stole, whan it is 
i lyte, 

Ijo cruel on the hunte, as is Arcite 
•i^or Iclous herte upon this Palamoun : 
ye in Belmarye ther nis so fel leoun, 2630 

rhat hunted is, or for his hunger wood, 
Me of his praye desireth so the blood, 

Vs Palamon to sleen his fo Arcite. 

fhe lelous strokes on hir helmes byte; 

)ut renneth blood on bothe hir sydes 
rede. 2635 

i Som tyme an ende ther is of every 
jdede; 

or er the Sonne un-to the reste wente, 

The stronge king Emetreus gan hente 

[his Palamon, as he faught with Arcite, 
j^nd made his swerd depe in his flesh to 
byte ; 2640 

\nd by the force of twenty is he take 

Jnyolden, and y-drawe unto the stake. 

^nd in the rescous of this Palamoun 
he stronge king Ligurge is born adoun; 

\nd king Emetreus, for al his strengthe, 

|S born out of his sadel a swerdes 

j lengthe, 2646 

So hitte him Palamon er he were take; 

Jut al for noght, he was broght to the 
stake. 

iis hardy herte mighte him helpe 

ji naught; 

■le moste abyde, whan that he was 
caught 2650 

3y force, and eek by composicioun. 

f Who sorweth now but woful Pala- 

; moun, 

Ohat moot namore goon agayn to fighte? 

\nd whan that Theseus had seyn this 

j sighte, 2654 

iJn-to the folk that foghten thus echoon 

jie cryde, ' Ho ! namore, for it is doon ! 

t wol be trevve luge, and no partye. 

iVrcite of Thebes shal have Kmelye, 



That by his fortune hath hir faire y- 

wonne.' 
Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne 
Tor love of this, so loude and heigh 

with-alle, 2661 

It semed that the listes sholde falle. 
What can now faire Venus doon 

above? 
What seith she now? what dooth this 

quen'e of love? 
But wepeth so, for wanting of hir wille. 
Til that hir teres in the listes fille; 2666 
She seyde : ' I am ashamed, doutelees.' 
Saturnus seyde : * Doghter, hold thy 

pees. 
Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al 

his bone, 
And, by myn heed, thou shalt ben esed 

sone.' 2670 

The trompes, with the loude minstral- 

cye. 
The heraudes, that ful loude yoUe and 

crye. 
Been in hir wele for loye of daun Arcite. 
But herkneth me, and stinteth now a 

Which a miracle ther bifel anon. 2675 
This fie'rse Arcite hath of his helm 

y-don. 
And on a courser, for to shewe his face, 
He priketh endelong the large place, 
Loking upward up-on this Emelye ; 
And she agayn him caste a freendlich 

ye, 2680 

(For wommen, as to speken in comune. 
They folwen al the favour of fortune,) 
And she was al his chere, as in his herte. 
Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte. 
From Pluto sent, at requeste of Saturne, 
For which his hors for fere gan to turne. 
And leep asyde, and foundred as he leep; 
And, er that Arcite may taken keep, 
He pighte him on the pomel of his heed, 
That in the place he lay as he were 

deed, 2690 

His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. 
As blak he lay as any cole or crowe. 
So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. 
Anon he was y-born out of the place 
With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. 2695 
Tho was he corven out of his barneys. 
And in a bed y-brouglit ful faire and blyve, 
For he was yet in memorie and alyve, 



36 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2699-2787. 



And alway crying after Enielye. 2699 

Duk Theseus, with al his companye, 
Is comen hoom to Athenes his citee, 
With alle blisse and greet solempnitee. 
Al be it that this aventure was falle, 
He nolde noglit disconforten hem alle. 
Men seyde eek, that Arcite shal nat 

dye; 2705 

He shal ben heled of his nialadye. 
And of another thing they were as fayn, 
That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, 
Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon, 
That with a spere was thirled his brest- 

boon. 2710 

To othere woundes, and to broken amies, 
Some hadden salves, and some hadden 

charmes; 
Fermacies of herbes, and eek save 
They dronken, for they wolde hir limes 

have. 2714 

Eor which this noble duk, as he wel can, 
Conforteth and honoureth every man, 
And made revel al the longe night, 
Un-to the straunge lordes, as was right. 
Ne ther was holden no disconfitinge, 
But as a lustes or a tourneyinge; 2720 
For soothly ther was no disconfiture. 
For falling nis nat but an aventure; 
Ne to be lad with fors un-to the stake 
Unyolden, and with twenty knightes take, 
O persone allone, with-outen mo, 2725 
And haried forth by arme, foot, and to, 
And eek his stede driven forth with staves. 
With footmen, bothe yemen and eek 

knaves, 
It nas aretted him no vileinye, 2729 

Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. 

For which anon duk Theseus leet crye, 
To stinten alle rancour and envye, 
The gree as wel of o syde as of other. 
And either syde y-lyk, as otheres brother; 
And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, 2735 
And fully heeld a feste dayes three; 
And conveyed the kinges worthily 
Out of his toun a lournee largely. 
And hoom wente every man the righte 

way. 
Ther was namore, but ' far wel, have good 

day ! ' 2740 

Of this bataille I wol namore endyte, 
But speke of Palamon and of Arcite. 
Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the 

sore 



Encreesseth at his herte more and more. 
The clothered blood, for any leche- 

craft, 2745 : 

Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft. 
That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusinge, 
Ne drinke of herbes may ben his help-. 

inge. 
The vertu expulsif, or animal, 
Fro thilke vertu cleped natural 2750 ' 

Ne may the venim voyden, ne expelle. 
The pypes of his longes gonne to swelle, , 
And every lacerte in his brest adoun 
Is silent with venim and corrupcioun. 
Him gayneth neither, for to gete his; 

iyf» . 2755 

Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif; 
Al is to-brosten thilke regioun. 
Nature hath now no dominacioun. 
And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche, 
Par-wel, phisyk ! go ber the man to 

chirche ! 2760 

This al and som, that Arcita mot dye, 
For which he sendeth after Emelye, 
And Palamon, that was his cosin dere; 
Than seyde he thus, as ye shul after here. 
-i^J^aught may the woful spirit in myn 
P herte 2765 

Declare o poynt of alle my sorwes smerte 
To yow, my lady, that I love most; 
But I biquethe the service of my gost 
To yow aboven every creature, 
Sin that my lyf may no lenger dure. 2770 
Alias, the wo ! alias, the peynes stronge, 
That I for yow have sufifred, and so longe ! 
Alias, the deeth ! alias, myn Emelye ! 
Alias, departing of our companye ! 
Alias, myn hertes queue ! alias, ray: 

wyf! 2775 

Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! 
What is this world? what asketh men to 

have? 
Now wath his love, now in his colde 

grave 
Allone, with-outen any companye. 
Far-wel, my swete fo ! myn Emelye ! 278O1' 
And softe tak me in your armes tweye, 
For love of God, and herkneth what I 

seye. 
I have heer with my cosin Palamon 
Had stryf and rancour, many a day a-gon,i 
For love of yow, and for my lelousye. 2785 
And lupiter so wis my soule gye, 
To speken of a servant proprely, 



l>78S-2868.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



37 



jvVith alle circumstaunces trewely, 

irhat is to seyn, trouthe, honour, and 

knighthede, 
^Msdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh 
kinredc, 2790 

Fredom, and al that longeth to that art, 
30 lupiter have of my soule part, 
A.S in this world right now ne knowe I 
' non 

So worthy to ben loved as Palamon, 
|rhat serveth yovv, and wol don al his 
lyf. 2795 

|\nd if that ever ye shul been a wyf, 
iForyet nat Palamon, the gentil man.' 
And with that word his speche faille gan, 
For from his feet up to his brest was come 
The cold of deeth, that hadde him over- 
come. 2800 
And yet more-over, in his armes two 
The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago. 
Dnly the intellect, with-outen more, 
Fhat dwelled in his herte syk and sore, 
:jan faillen, when the herte felte 

b deeth, 2805 

usked his eyen two, and failled breeth. 
iBut on his lady yet caste he his ye; 
His laste wor . was, ' mercy, Emelye ! ' 
jflis spirit chaunged hous, and wente 
|i ther, 2809 

lAs I cam never, I can nat tellen wher. 
iTherfor I stinte, I nam no divinistre; 
Of soules linde I nat in this registre, 
Me me ne list thilke opiniouns to telle 
Of hem, though that they wryten wher 

they dwelle. 2814 

Arcite is cold, ther Mars his soule gye; 
!^3'ow wol I speken forth of Emelye. 
i Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, 
And Theseus his suster took anon 
Swowninge, and bar hir fro the corps 
[ away. 2819 

What helpeth it to tarien forth the day. 
To tellen how she weep, bothe eve and 

morwe ? 
For in swich cas wommen have swich 

sorwe, 
^Vhan that hir housbonds been from hem 

ago, 
Irhat for the more part they sorwen so, 
Or elles fallen in swich maladye, 2825 
That at the laste certeinly they dye. 

Infinite been the sorwes and the teres 
Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres, 



In al the toun, for deeth of this Theban; 
For him ther wepeth bothe child and 

man; 2830 

So greet a weping was ther noon, certayn, 
Whan Ector was y-broght, al fresh y- 

slayn. 
To Troye; alias ! the pitee that was ther, 
Cracching of chekes, rending eek of heer. 
* Why woldestow be deed,' thise wommen 

crye, 2835 

'And haddestgoldy-nough, and Emelye?' 
No man mighte gladen Theseus, 
Savinge his olde fader Egeus, 
That knew this worldes transmutacioun. 
As he had seyn it chaungen up and 

doun, 2840 

Toye after wo, and wo after gladnesse : 
And shewed hem ensamples and lyknesse. 
' Right as ther deyed never man,' quod 

he, 
'That he ne livede in erthe in som 

degree. 
Right so ther livede never man,' he 

seyde, 2845 

'In al this world, that som tyme he ne 

deyde. 
This world tiis but a thurghfare ful of wo. 
And we ben pilgrimes, passinge to and 

fro; 
Deeth is an ende of every worldly sore.' 
And over al this yet seyde he muchel 

more 2850 

To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte 
The peple, that they sholde hem recon- 

forte. , 

Duk Theseus, with al his bisy cure, 
Caste now wher that the sepulture 
Of good Arcite may best y-maked be, 2855 
And eek most honurable in his degree. 
And at the laste he took conclusioun. 
That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun 
Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, 
That in that selve grove, swote and 

grene, 2860 

Ther as he hadde his amorous desires, 
His compleynt, and for love his hote fires. 
He wolde make a fyr, in which thoffice 
Funeral he mighte al accomplice; 
And leet comaunde anon to hakke and 

hewe 2865 

The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe 
In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne; 
His officers with swifte feet they renne 



3^ 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2869-294!; 



And ryde anon at his comaundement. 
And after this, Theseus hath y-sent 2870 
After a here, and it al over-spradde 
With cloth of gold, the richest that he 

hadde. 
And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite; 
Upon his hondes hadde he gloves whyte; 
Eek on his heed a croune of laurer 

grene, 2875 

And in his hond a swerd ful bright and 

kene. 
He leyde him bare the visage on the here, 
Therwith he weep that pitee was to here. 
And for the peple sholde seen him alle, 
Whan it was day, he broghte him to the 

halle, 2880 

That roreth of the crying and the soun. 

Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun, 
With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heres. 
In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teres; 
And, passing othere of weping, Em- 

elye, 2885 

The rewfulleste of al the companye. 
In as muche as the service sholde be 
The more noble and riche in his degree, 
Duk Theseus leet forth three stedes 

bringe, 2889 

That trapped were in steel al gliteringe, 
And covered with the armes of daun 

Arcite. 
Up-on thise stedes, that weren grete and 

whyte, 
Ther seten folk, of which oon bar his 

sheeld, 
Another his spere up in his hondes heeld; 
The thridde bar with him his bovve 

Turkeys, 2895 

Of brend gold was the cas, and eek the 

barneys; 
And riden forth a pas with sorweful chere 
Toward the grove, as ye shul after here. 
The nobleste of the Grekes that ther 

were 
Upon hir shuldres carieden the here, 2900 
With slakke pas, and eyen rede and wete, 
Thurgh-out the citee, by the maister-strete. 
That sprad was al with blak, an,d wonder 

hye 
Right of the same is al the strete y-wrye. 
Up-on the right hond wente old 

Egeus, 2905 

And on that other syde duk Theseus, 
With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn. 






Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wynji 
Eek Palamon, with ful greet companye; 
And after that cam woful Emelye, 2910:1 
With fyr in honde, as was that tyme thei 

gyse. 
To do thoffice of funeral servyse. 

Heigh labour, and ful greet apparai|jl)j 

linge 
Was at the service and the fyr-makingej 
That vi'ith his grene top the heveni 

raughte, 2915 

And twenty fadme of brede the amies 

straughte; 
This is to seyn, the bowes were so brode. 
Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a 

lode. 
But how the fyr was maiced up on heighte, ^ 
And eek the names how the trees 

highte, 2920 

As 00k, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, pop- 

ler, 
Wilow, elm, plane, ash, box, chasteyn, 

lind, laurer, 
Mapul, thorn, beech, hasel, ew, whippel- 

tree. 
How they weren feld, shal nat be told for 

me; 
Ne how the goddes ronnen up and 

doun, 2925 

Disherited of hir habitacioun. 
In which they woneden in reste and pees, 
Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrides; 
Ne how the bestes and the briddes alle 
Fledden for fere, whan the wode was 

falle ; 2930 

Ne how the ground agast was of the 

light, 
That was nat wont to seen the sonne 

bright; 
Ne how the fyr was couched first with 

stree, 
And than with drye stokkes cloven a 

three, 2934 

And than with grene wode and spycerye, 
And than with cloth of gold and with 

perrye, 
And gerlandes hanging with ful many a 

flour. 
The mirre, thencens, with al so greet 

odour; 
Nc how x\rcite lay among al this, 
Ne what richesse aboute his body is ; 2940 
Ne how thrt Emelye, as was the gyse, 



2942-3020.] 



A. THE KNIGHTES TALE. 



39 



Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse; 

Ne how she swowned whan men made 

the fyr, 
Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr; 
Ne what leweles men in the fyr tho 

caste, 2945 

Whan that the fyr was greet and brente 

faste ; 
Ne how som caste hir sheeld, and som hir 

spere, 
And of hir vestiments, whiche that they 

were, 
And cuppes ful of wyn, and milk, and 

blood, 2949 

Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood; 
Ne how the Grekes with an huge route 
Thryes riden al the fyr aboute 
Up-on the left hand, with a loud shout- 

inge, 
And thryes with hir speres clateringe; 
And thryes how the ladies gonne 

crye; 2955 

Ne how that lad was hom-ward Emelye; 
Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde; 
Ne how that liche-wake was y-holde 
Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye 
The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye; 
Who wrastleth best naked, with oille 

enoynt, 2961 

Ne who that bar him best, in no disioynt. 
I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon 
Hoom til Athenes, whan the pley is 

doon; 
But shortly to the poynt than wol I 

wende, 2965 

And maken of my longe tale an ende. 
By processe and by lengthe of certeyn 

yeres 
Al stinted is the moorning and the teres 
Of Grekes, by oon general assent. 
Than semed me ther was a parlement 2970 
At Athenes, up-on certeyn poynts and 

cas; 
Among the whiche poynts y-spoken was 
To have with certeyn contrees alliaunce, 
And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce. 
For which this noble Theseus anon 2975 
Leet senden after gentil Palamon, 
Unwist of him what was the cause and 

why; 
But in his blake clothes sorwefuUy 
He cam at his CDmaundcment in hye. 
Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. 29S0 



Whan they were set, and bust was al the 

place, 
And Theseus abiden hadde a space 
Er any word cam from his wyse brest. 
His eyen sette he ther as was his lest. 
And with a sad visage he syked stille. 
And after that right thus he seyde his 

wille. 2986 

'The firste moevere of the cause 

above, 
Whan he first made the faire cheyne of 

love, 
Greet was theffect, and heigh was his 

entente; 
Wei wiste he why, and what ther-of he 

mente; 2990 

For with that faire cheyne of love he 

bond 
The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond 
In certeyn boundes, that they may nat 

flee; 
That same prince and that moevere,' 

quod he, 
' Hath stablissed, in this wrecched world 

adoun, 2995 

Certeyne dayes and duracioun 
To al that is engendred in this place. 
Over the whiche day they may nat pace, 
Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge; 
Ther needeth non auctoritee allegge, 3000 
For it is preved by experience, 
But that me list declaren my sentence. 
Than may men by this ordre wel dis- 

cerne. 
That thilke moevere stalile is and eterne. 
Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, 3005 
That every part deryveth from his houl. 
For nature hath nat take his beginning 
Of no partye ne cantel of a thing. 
But of a thing that parfit is and stable. 
Descending so, til it be corrumpable. 3010 
And therfore, of his wyse purveyaunce. 
He hath so wel l^set his ordinaunce, 
That speces of thinges and progressiouns 
ShuUen enduren by successiouns. 
And nat eterne be, with-oute lye: 3015 
This maistow understonde and seen at 

ye. 
' Lo the ook, that hath so long a nor- 

isshinge 
From tyme that it first biginneth springe, 
And hath so long a lyf, as we may see. 
Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. 3020 



40 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3021-3097. 



* Considereth eek, how that the harde 

stoon 
Under our feet, on which we trede and 

goon, 
Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye. 
The brode river somtyme wexeth dreye. 
The grete touues see we wane and 

wende. 3025 

Than may ye see that al this thing hath 

ende. 
*Of man and womman seen we wel 

also, 
That nedeth, in oon of thise termes two, 
This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age. 
He moot ben deed, the king as shal a 

page; 3030 

Som in his bed, som in the depe see, 
Som in the large feekl, as men may se; 
Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke 

weye. 
Thanne may I seyn that al this thing 

moot deye. 
What maketh this but lupiter the king? 
The which is prince and cause of alle 

thing, 3036 

Converting al un-to his propre welle, 
From which it is deryved, sooth to telle. 
And here-agayns no creature on lyve 
Of no degree availleth for to stryve. 3040 
'Thanne is it wisdom, as it thinketh 

me, 
To maken vertu of necessitee. 
And take it wel, that we may nat eschue. 
And namely that to us alle is due. 
And who-so gruccheth ought, he dooth 

folye, _ 3045 

And rebel is to him that al may gye. 
And certeinly a man hath most honour 
To dyen in his excellence and flour, 
Whan he is siker of his gode name ; 
Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, 

no shame. 3050 

And gladder oghte his freend ben of his 

deeth. 
Whan with honour up-yolden is his 

breeth, 
Than whan his name apalled is for age; 
For al forgeten is his vasselage. 
Than is it best, as for a worthy fame, 3055 
To dyen whan that he is best of name. 
The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. 
Why grucchen we? why have we hevi- 

nesse. 



That good Arcite, of chivalrye flour 
Departed is, with duetee and honour, 3060 
Out of this foule prison of this lyf ? 
Why grucchen heer his cosin and his 

wyf 
Of his wel-fare that loved hem so weel? 
Can he hem thank? nay, God wot, never 

a deel, 
That bothe his soule and eek hem-self 

offende, 3065 

And yet they mowe hir lustes nat 

amende. 
* What may I conclude of this longe 

serie. 
But, after wo, I rede us to be merie. 
And thanken lupiter of al his grace? 
And, er that we departen from this 

place, 3070 

I rede that we make, of sorwes two, 
O parfyt loye, lasting ever-mo; 
And loketh now, wher most sorwe is 

her-inne, 
Ther wol we first amenden and biginne. 
' Suster,' quod he, ' this is my fuUe 

assent, 3075 

With al thavys heer of my parlement, 
That gentil Palamon, your owne knight. 
That serveth yow with wille, herte, and 

might. 
And ever hath doon, sin that ye first 

him knewe. 
That ye shul, of your grace, up-on him 

rewe, 3080 

And taken him for housbonde and for 

lord: 
Leen me your hond, for this is our acord. 
Lat see now of your wommanly pitee. 
He is a kinges brother sone, pardee; 3084 
And, though he were a povre bacheler, 
Sin he hath served yow so many a yeer. 
And had for yow so greet adversitee. 
It moste been considered, leveth me; 
F'-r gentil mercy oghte to passen right.' 
Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful 

right; 3090 

* 1 trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning 
To make yow assente to this thing. 
Com neer, and tak your lady by the 

hond.' 
Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond, 
That highte matrimoine or mariage, 3095 
By al the counseil and the baronage. 
And thus with alle blisse and melodye 



3098-3158.] 



A. THE MILLER'S PROLOGUE. 



41 



Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. 

And God, that al this wyde world hath 

wroght, 
Sende him his love, that hathe it dere 

a-boght. 3100 

For now is Palamon in alle wele. 
Living in blisse, in richesse, and in 

hele; 



And Emelye him loveth so tendrely, 

And he hir serveth al-so gentilly. 

That never was ther no word hem 

bitwene 3^05 

Of lelousye, or any other tene. 
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye; 
And God save al this faire companye ! — 

Amen. 



Here is ended the Knightes Tale. 



THE MILLER'S PROLOGUE. 



Here fohven the wordes bitxvene the Host 
and the Miller e. 

Whan that the Knight had thus his tale 

y-told, 
In al the route nas ther yongne old 31 10 
That he ne seyde it was a noble storie, 
And worthy for to drawen to memorie ; 
And namely the gentils everichoon. 
Our Hoste lough and swoor, 'so moot I 

goon. 
This gooth aright; unbokeled is the 

male; 31 15 

Lat see now who shal telle another tale : 
For trewely, the game is wel bigonne. 
Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye 

conne, 
Sumwhat, to quyte with the Knightes 

tale.' 
The Miller, that for-dronken was al 

pale, 3120 

So that unnethe up-on his hors he sat. 
He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, 
Ne abyde no man fur his curteisye, 
But in Pilates vois he gan to crye, 
And swoor by armes and by blood and 

bones, 3125 

*I can a noble tale for the nones, 
With which I wol now quyte the Knightes 

tale.' 
Our Hoste saugh that he was dronke 

of ale. 
And seyde : * abyd, Robin, my leve 

brother, 
Sombettre man shal telle us first another : 
Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.' 3131 
* By goddes soul,' quod he, ' that wol 

nat I; 



For I wol speke, or elles go my wey.' 
Our Hoste answerde : ' tel on, a devel 

wey ! 
Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome.' 3135 
' Nowherkneth,' quod the Miller, 'alle 

and some ! 
But first 1 make a protestacioun 
That I am dronke, I knowe it by my 

soun ; 
And therfore, if that I misspeke or 

seye, 
Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow 

preye; 3140 

For I wol telle a legende and a lyf 
Bothe of a Carpenter, and of his wyf. 
How that a clerk hath set the wrightes 

cappe.' 
The Reve answerde and seyde, ' stint 

thy clappe, 
Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. 3145 
It is a sinne and eek a greet folye 
To apeiren any man, or him diffame. 
And eek to bringen wyves in swich fame. 
Thou mayst y-nogh of othere thinges 

seyn.' 
This dronken Miller spak ful sone 

ageyn, 3150 

And seyde, ' leve brother Osewold, 
Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. 
But I sey nat therfore that thou art 

oon; 
Ther been ful gode wyves many oon. 
And ever a thousand gode ayeyns oon 

badde, 3155 

That knowestow wel thy-self, but-if thou 

madde. 
Why artow angry with my tale now? 
I have a wyf, pardee, as well as thou. 



42 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3159-3234. 



Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, 
Taken up-on me more than y-nogh, 3160 
As demen of my-self that I were oon; 
I wol beleve wel that I am noon. 
An housbond shal nat been inquisitif 
Of goddes privetee, nor of his wyf. 
So he may finde goddes foyson there, 
Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere,' 
What sholde I more seyn, but this 
Millere 3167 

He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, 
But tolde his cherles tale in his manere; 
Me thinketh that I shal reherce it here. 
And ther-fore every gentil wight I preye, 
For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye 
Of evel entente, but that I moot reherce 

Here endcth 



Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse. 
Or elles falsen som of my matere. 3175 
And therfore, who-so list it nat y-here, 
Turne over the leef, and chese another 

tale; 
For he shal hnde y-nowe, grete and 

smale. 

Of storial thing that toucheth gentillesse, 
And eek moralitee and holinesse; 3 180 
Blameth nat me if that ye chese amis. 
The Miller is a cherl, ye knowe wel this; 
So was the Reve, and othere many mo, 
And harlotrye they tolden bothe two. 
Avyseth yow and putte me out of blame; 
And eek men shal nat make ernest of 

game. 3l8( 

the prologe. 



THE MILLERES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Millere his tale. 

Whylom ther was dwellinge atOxenford 
A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord. 
And of his craft he was a Carpenter. 
With him ther was dwellinge a povre 

scoler, 3190 

Had lerned art, but al his fantasye 
Was turned for to lerne astrologye, 
And coude a certeyn of conclusiouns 
To demen by interrogaciouns, 
If that men axed him in certein houres. 
Whan that men sholde have droghte or 

elles shoures, 3196 

Or if men axed him what sholde bifalle 
Of every thing, I may nat rekene hem 

alle. 
This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas; 
Of derne love he coude and of solas; 3200 
And ther-to he was sleigh and ful privee, 
And lyk a mayden meke for to see. 
A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye 
AUone, with-outen any companye, 
Ful fetisly y-dight with herbes swote; 3205 
And he him-self as swete as is the rote 
Of licorys, or any cetewale. 
His Almageste and bokes grete and 

smale, 
His astrelabie, longinge for his art. 
His augrim-stoncs layen faire a-part 3210 



On shelves couched at his beddes heed; 

His presse y-covered with a falding reed. 

And al above ther lay a gay sautrye. 

On which he made a nightes melodye 

So swetely, that al the chambre rong; 

And Angel us advirgineni he song; 32 1 6 

And after that he song the kinges note; 

P^ul often blessed was his mery throte. 

And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente 

After his freendes finding and his rente. 
This Carpenter had wedded newe a 
wyf 322J 

Which that he lovede more than his lyf; 

Of eightetene yeer she was of age. 

lalous he was, and heeld hir narwe 
cage. 

For she was wilde and yong, and he was 
old, 3225 

And demed him-self ben lyk a cokewold. 

He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was 
rude, 

That bad man sholde wedde his simili- 
tude. 

Men sholde wedden after hir estaat, 3229 

For youthe and elde is often at debaat. 

But sith that he was fallen in the snare, 

He moste endure, as other folk, his care. 
Fair was this yonge wyf, and ther- 
with-al 

As any wesele hir body gent and smal. 



3235-3313.] 



A. THE MILLERES TALE. 



43 



A ceynt she werede barred al of silk, 3235 
A barmclooth eek as whyt as morne 

milk 
Up-on hir lendes, ful of many a gore. 
Whyt was hir smok, and brouded al 

bifore 
And eek bihinde, on hir culer al^oute, 
Of col-blak silk, with-inne and eek with- 

oute. 3240 

The tapes of hir whyte voluper 
Were uf the same suyte of hir coler; 
Hir filet brood of silk, antl set ful hye : 
And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye. 
Ful smale y-puUed were hir browes 

two, 3245 

And tho were bent, and blakc as any 

sloo. 
She was ful more blisful on to see 
Than is the newe pere-ionette tree; 
And softer than the woUe is of a wether. 
And by hir ginlel heeng a purs of lether 
Tasseld with silk, and perled with la- 

toun. 3251 

In al this world, to seken up and doun, 
There nis no man so wys, that coude 

thenche 
So gay a popelote, or swieh a wenche. 
Ful brighter was the shyning of hir 

hewe 3255 

Than in the tour the noble y-forged 

newe. 
But of hir song, it was as loude and 

yerne 
As any swalwe sittinge on a berne. 
Ther-to she coude skippe and make 

game, 
As any kide or calf folwinge his dame. 
Hir mouth was swete as bragot or the 

meeth, 3261 

Or hord of apples Icyd in hey or heeth. 
Winsinge she was, as is a Toly colt. 
Long as a mast, and upriglit as a bolt. 
A brooch she baar up-on hir lowe coler, 
As brood as is the bos of a bocler. 3266 
Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye; 
She was a prymerole, a pigges-nye 
For any lord to leggen in his bedde, 
Or yet for any good yeman to wedde. 3270 
Now sire, and eft sire, so bifel the cas, 
That on a day this hende Nicholas 
Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and 

pleye, 
Whyl that hir housbond was at Oseneye, 



As clerk es ben ful subtile and ful 

queynte; 3275 

And prively he caughte hir by the 

queynte. 
And seyde, 'y-vvis, but if ich have my 

wille, 
P^or derne love of thee, lemman, I spille.' 
And heeld hir harde by the haunche- 

bones, 
And seyde, 'lemman, love me al at-ones, 
Or I wol dyen, also god me save ! ' 3281 
And she sprong as a colt doth in the 

trave, 
And with hir heed she wryed faste awey. 
And seyde, ' I wol nat kisse thee, by my 

fey, 3284 

Why, lat ])e,' quod she, * lat be, Nicholas, 
Or I wol crye out " harrow " and " alias." 
Do wey your handes for your curteisye ! ' 

This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye, 
And spak so faire, and profred hir so 

faste. 
That she hir love him graunted atte 

laste, 3290 

And swoor hir 00th, by seint Thomas of 

Kent, 
That she wol been at his comandement, 
Whan that she may hir leyser wel espye. 
' Myn housbond is so ful of lalousye. 
That but ye wayte wel and been privee, 
I woot right wel I nam but deed,' quod 

she. 3296 

* Ye moste been ful derne, as in this cas.' 

'Nay tlier-of care thee noght,' quod 
Nicholas, 

* A clerk had litherly biset his whyle, 
But-if he coude a Carpenter bigyle.' 3300 
And thus they been acorded and y-sworn 
To wayte a tyme, as I have told biforn. 
Whan Nicholas had doon thus everydeel, 
And thakked hir aboute the lendes weel, 
He kist hir swete, and taketh his sautrye. 
And pleyeth faste, and maketh melodye. 

Than 'hi it thus, that to the parish- 
chirche, 33^7 

Cristes owne werkes for to wirche. 
This gode wyf wente on an haliday; 
Hir forheed shoon as bright as any day. 
So was it wasshen whan she leet hir 
werk. 331 1 

Now was ther of that chirche a parish- 
clerk. 
The which that was y-cleped Absolon. 



44 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3314-3393. 



Crul was his heer, and as the gold it 

shoon, 
And strouted as a fanne large and 

brode; 3315 

Ful streight and even lay his loly shode. 
His rode was reed, his eyen greye as 

goos; 
With Powles window corven on his 

shoos, 
In hoses rede he wente fetisly. 
Y-clad he was ful smal and proprely, 3320 
Al in a kirtel of a light wachet; 
Ful faire and thikke been the poyntes 

set. 
And ther-up-on he hadde a gay surplys 
As whyt as is the blosme up-on the rys. 
A mery child he was, so god me save, 
Wei coude he laten blood and clippe and 

shave, 3326 

And make a chartre of lond or acquit- 

aunce. 
In twenty manere coude he trippe and 

daunce 
After the scole of Oxenforde tho, 3329 
And with his legges casten to and fro. 
And pleyen songes on a small rubible; 
Ther-to he song som-tyme a loud quin- 

ible; 
And as wel coude he pleye on his giterne. 
In al the toun nas brewhous ne taverne 
That he ne visited with his solas, 3335 
Ther any gaylard tappestere was. 
But sooth to seyn, he was somdel squay- 

mous 
Of farting, and of speche daungerous. 

This Absolon, that lolif was and gay, 
Gooth with a sencer on the haliday, 3340 
Sensinge the wyves of the parish faste; 
And many a lovely look on hem he caste, 
And namely on this carpenteres wyf. 
To loke on hir him thoughte a mery lyf. 
She was so propre and swete and like- 

rous. 3345 

I dar wel seyn, if she had been a mous, 
And he a cat, he wolde hir hente anon. 

This parish-clerk, this loly Absolon, 
Hath in his herte swich a love-longinge. 
That of no wyf ne took he noon offringe; 
For curteisye, he seyde, he wolde noon. 
The mone, whan it was night, ful brighte 

shoon, 3352 

And Absolon his giterne hath y-take, 
For paramours, he thoghte for to wake. 



And forth he gooth, lolif and amorous, 
Til he cam to the carpenteres hous 3356 
A litel after cokkes hadde y-crowe; 
And dressed him up by a shot-windowe 
That was up-on the carpenteres wal. jflj 
He singeth in his vois gentil and smal, ■ 
' Now, dere lady, if thy wille be, 3361 
I preye yow that ye wol rewe on me,' 
Ful wel acordaunt to his giterninge. 
This carpenter awook, and herde hirr 

singe. 
And spak un-to his wyf, and seyde 

anon, 3365 

' What ! Alison ! herestow nat Absolon 
That chaunteth thus under our boures 

wal?'. 
And she answerde hir housbond ther- 

with-al, 
* Vis, god wot, lohn, I here it every-del.' 
This passeth forth; what wol ye bei 

than wel? 337c 

Fro day to day this loly Absolon 
So woweth hir, that him is wo bigon. 
He waketh al the night and al the day; 
He kempte hise lokkes brode, and made 

him gay; 
He woweth hir by menes and brocage, 
And swoor he wolde been hir owne 

page; _ _ _ 337^ 

He singeth, brokkinge as a nightingale; 
He sente hir piment, meeth, and spyced 

ale. 
And wafres, pyping hote out of the 

glede; 
And for she was of toune, he profred 

mede. 3380 

For som folk wol ben wonnen for rich- 

esse, 
And som for strokes, and som for gentill- 

esse. 
Somtyme, to shewe his lightnesse and 

maistrye. 
He pleyeth Herodes on a scaffold hye. 
But what availleth him as in this cas? 
She loveth so this hende Nicholas, 3386 
That Absolon may blowe the bukkes 

horn; 
He ne hadde for his labour but a scorn; 
And thus she maketh Absolon hir ape. 
And al his ernest turneth til a lape. 3390 
Ful sooth is this proverbe, it is no lye. 
Men seyn right thus, ' alwey the nyeslye 
Maketh the ferre leve to be looth.' 



3394-3470.] 



A. THE MILLERES TALE. 



45 



For though that Absolon he wood or 
wrooth, _ 3394 

By-cause that he fer was from hir sighte, 
This nye Nicholas stood in his Hghte. 
Now here thee wel, thou hende Nich- 
olas ! 
For Absolon may waille and singe 

* alias.' 
And so bifel it on a Saterday, 
This carpenter was goon til Osenay; 3400 
And hende Nicholas and Alisoun 
Acorded been to this conclusioun, 
That Nicholas shal shapen him a wyle 
This sely lalous housbond to bigyle; 
And if so be the game wente aright, 3405 
She sholde slepen in his arm al night, 
For this was his desyr and hir also. 
And right anon, with-outen wordes mo, 
This Nicholas no lenger wolde tarie, 
But doth ful softe un-to his chambre 
carie 34io 

Bothe mete and drinke for a day or 

tweye, 
And to hir housbonde bad hir for to 

seye. 
If that he axed after Nicholas, 
She sholde seye she niste where he was, 
Of al that day she saugh him nat with 

ye; , 3415 

She trowed that he was in maladye, 
For, for no cry, hir mayde coude him 

calle; 
He nolde answere, for no-thing that 

mighte falle. 
This passeth forth al thilke Saterday, 
That Nicholas stille in his chambre lay, 
And eet and sleep, or dide what him 

leste, 3421 

Til Sonday, that the sonne gooth to 

reste. 
This sely carpenter hath greet mer- 

veyle 
Of Nicholas, or what thing mighte him 

eyle, 
And seyde, ' I am adrad, by seint Thomas, 
Itstandeth nat aright with Nicholas. 3426 
God shilde that he deyde sodeynly ! 
This world is now ful tikel, sikerly; 
I saugh to-day a cors y-born to chirche 
That now, on Monday last, I saugh him 

wirche. 3430 

Go up,' quod he un-to his knave 

anoon. 



' Clepe at his dore, or knokke with a 

stoon, 
Loke how it is, and tel me boldely.' 

This knave gooth him up ful sturdily, 
And at the chambre-dore, whyl that he 

stood, 3435 

He cryde and knokked as that he were 

wood : — 
* What ! how ! what do ye, maister Nich- 

olay? 
How may ye slepen al the longe day?' 

But al for noght, he herde nat a word; 
An hole he fond, ful lowe up-on a bord, 
Ther as the cat was wont in for to 

crepe; 3441 

And at that hole he looked in ful depe, 
And at the laste he hadde of him a 

sighte. 
This Nicholas sat gaping ever up-righte. 
As he had kyked on the newe mone. 3445 
Adoun he gooth, and tolde his maister 

sone 
In what array he saugh this ilke man. 

This carpenter to bleesen him bigan, 
And seyde, ' help us, seinte Frideswyde ! 
A man woot litel what him shal bityde. 
This man is falle, witli his astromye, 3451 
In som woodnesse or in som agonye; 
I thoghte ay wel how that it sholde be ! 
Men sholde nat knowe of goddes prive- 

tee. 
Ye, blessed be alwey a lewed man, 3455 
That noght but oonly his bileve can ! 
So ferde another clerk with astromye; 
He walked in the feeldes for to prye 
Up-on the sterres, what ther sholde 

bifalle, 
Til he was in a marle-pit y-falle; 3460 
He saugh nat that. But yet, by seint 

Thomas, 
Me reweth sore of hende Nicholas. 
He shal be rated of his studying, 
If that I may, by lesus, hevene king ! 

Get me a staf, that I may underspore, 
Whyl that thou, Robin, hevest up the 

dore. 3466 

He shal out of his studying, as I 

gesse ' — 
And to the chambre-dore he gan him 

dresse. 
His knave was a strong carl for the 

nones. 
And by the haspe he haf it up atones; 



46 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3471-3534. 



In-to the floor the dore fil anon. 3471 
This Nicholas sat ay as stille as stoon, 
And ever gaped upward in-to the eir. 
This carpenter wende ' he were in de- 

speir, 
And hente him by the sholdres might- 
ily, 3475 
And shook him harde, and cryde spit- 

ously, 
' What ! Nicholay ! what, how ! what loke 

adoun ! 
Awake, and thenk on Cristes passioun; 
I crouche thee from elves and fro 

wightes ! ' 
Ther-with the night-spel seyde he anon- 

rightes 3480 

On foure halves of the hous aboute, 
And on the threshfold of the dore with- 

oute : — 
' lesu Crist, and seynt Benedight, 
Blesse this hous from every wikked 

wight, 
For nightes verye, the white pater-Jios- 

ter! 3485 

Where wentestow, seynt Petres soster?' 

And atte laste this hende Nicholas 
Can for to syke sore, and seyde, ' alias ! 
Shal al the world l^e lost eftsones now? ' 
This carpenter answerde, * what seys- 

tow ? 3490 

What ! thenk on god, as we don, men 

that swinke.' 
This Nicholas answerde, ' fecche me 

drinke; 
And after wol I speke in privetee 
Of certeyn thing that toucheth me and 

thee; 
I wol telle it non other man, certeyn.' 
This carpenter goth doun, and comth 

ageyn, 3496 

And broghte of mighty ale a large quart; 
And whan tiiat ech of hem had dronke 

his part. 
This Nicholas his dore faste shette, 
And doun the carpenter by him he 

sette 3500 

He seyde, ' lohn, myn hoste lief and 

dere, 
Thou shalt up-on thy trouthe swere me 

here. 
That to no wight thou shalt this conseil 

wreye; 
For it is Cristes conseil that I seye, 



And if thou telle it man, thou art for- 

lore; 3505 

For this vengaunce thou shalt han ther- 

fore. 
That if thou wreye me, thou shalt be 

wood ! ' 
' Nay, Crist forbede it, for his holy 

blood ! ' 
Quod tho tliis sely man, ' I nam no 

labbe, 
Ne, though I seye, I nam nat lief to 

gabbe. 35^0 

Sey what thou wolt, I shal it never 

telle 
To child ne wyf, by him that harwed 

helle ! ' 
' Now John,' quod Nicholas, * I wol 

nat lye; 
I have y-founde in myn astrologye. 
As I have loked in the moue bright. 
That now, a Monday next, at quarter- 
night, 3516 
Shal fade a reyn and that so vvilde and 

wood, 
That half so greet was never Noes flood. 
This world,' he seyde, * in lasse than in 

an hour 
Shal al be dreynt, so hidous is the 

shour; 3 5 20 

Thus shal mankynde drenche and lese 

hir lyf.' 
This carpenter answerde, * alias, my 

wyf! 
And shal she drenche? alias! myn 

Aliscnm ! ' 
For sorwe of this he hi almost adoun. 
And seyde, ' is ther no remedie in this 

cas?' 3525 

' Why, yis, for gode,' quod hende Nich- 
olas, 
' If thou wolt werken after lore and 

reed; 
Thou mayst nat werken after thyn owene 

heed. 
For thus seith Salomon, that was ful 

trewe, 
" Werk al by conseil, and thou shalt nat 

rewe." 353° 

And if thou werken wolt by good con 

sell, 
I undertake, with-outen mast and seyl. 
Yet shal I saven hir and thee and me. 
Hastuw nat herd how saved was Noe, 



3535-3604.] 



A. THE MILLERES TALE. 



47 



Whan that our lord had warned him 

biforn 3535 

That al the world with water sholde- be 

lorn?' 
* Yis,' quod this carpenter, * ful yore 

ago.' 
'Hastow nat herd,' quod Nicholas, 

'also 
The sorwe of Noe with his felawshipe, 
Er that he mighte gete his wyf to 

shipe? 3540 

Him had be lever, I dar wel undertake. 
At thilke tyme, than alle hise wetheres 

blake, 
That she hadde had a ship hir-self 

allone. 
And ther-fore, wostou what is best to 

done? 
This asketh haste, and of an hastif 

*ing 3545 

Men may nat preche or maken tarying. 

Anon go gete us faste in-to this in 
A kneding-trogh, or elles a kimelin, 
For ech of us, but loke that they be 

large, 
In whiche we mowe swinime as in a 

barge, ^ 3550 

And han ther-inne vitaille suffisant 
But for a day; fy on the remenant ! 
The water chal aslake and goon away 
Aboute pryme up-on the nexte day. 
But Robin may nat wite of this, thy 

knave, 3555 

Ne eek thy mayde Gille I may nat save; 
Axe nat why, for though thou aske me, 
I wol nat tellen goddes privetee. 
Suffiseth thee, but if thy wittes madde, 
To han as greet a grace as Noe hadde. 
Thy wyf shal I wel saven, out of doute, 
Go now thy wey, and speed thee heer- 

aboute. 3562 

But whan thou hast, for hir and thee 

and me, 
Y-geten us thise kneding-tubbes three. 
Than shaltow hange hem in the roof ful 

hye, 3565 

That no man of our purveyaunce spye. 
And whan thou thus hast doon as I have 

seyd, 
And hast our vitaille faire in hem y-leyd, 
And eek an ax, to smyte the corde atwo 
When that the water comth, that we 

may go, ' 3570 



And ])roke an hole an heigh, up-on the 

gable. 
Unto the gardin-ward, over the stable. 
That we may frely passen forth our way 
Whan that the grete shour is goon 

away — 
Than shaltow swimme as myrie, I un- 
dertake, 3575 
As doth the whyte doke after hir drake. 
Than wol I clepe, " how ! Alison ! how ! 

John! 
Be myrie, for the flood wol passe anon." 
And thou wolt seyn, " hayl, maister 

Nicholay ! 
Good morwe, I se thee wel, for it is 

day." 3580 

And than shul we be lordes al our lyf 
Of al the world, as Noe and his wyf. 

But of o thyng I warne thee ful right. 
Be wel avysed, on that ilke night 
That we ben entred in-to shippes 

bord, 3585 

That noon of us ne speke nat a word, 
Ne clepe, ne crye, but been in his 

preyere; 
For it is goddes owne heste dere. 

Thy wyf and thou mote hange fer a- 

twinne, 
For that bitwixe yow shal be no sinne 
No more in looking than ther shal in 

dede; 3591 

This ordinance is seyd, go, god thee 

spede ! 
Tomorwe at night, whan men ben alle 

aslepe, 
In-to our kneding-tubbes wol we crepe, 
And sitten ther, al^yding goddes grace. 
Go now thy wey, I have no lenger 

space 3596 

To make of this no lenger sermoning. 
INTen seyn thus, "send the wyse, and sey 

no-thing ; " 
Thou art so wys, it nedeth thee nat 

teche; 
Go, save our lyf, and that I thee bi- 

seche.' 36CX) 

This sely carpenter goth forth his 

wey. 
Ful ofte he seith * alias ' and * weyl- 

awey,' 
And to his wyf he tolde his privetee ; 
And she was war, and knew it bet than 

he. 



48 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3605-3683. 



What al this queynte cast was for to 

seye. 3605 

But nathelees she ferde as she wolde 

deye, 
And seyde, 'alias! go forth thy wey 

anon, 
Help us to scape, or we ben lost echon; 
I am thy trewe verray wedded wyf; 
Go, dere spouse, and help to save our 

lyf.' 3610 

Lo ! which a greet thyng is affeccioun ! 
Men may dye of imaginacioun, 
So depe may impressioun be take. 
This sely carpenter biginneth quake; 
Him thinketh verraily that he may 

see 3616 

Noes flood come walwing as the see 
To drenchen Alisoun, his hony dere. 
He wepeth, weyleth, maketh sory chere. 
He syketh with ful many a sory swogh. 
He gooth and geteth him a kneding- 

trogh, 3620 

And after that a tubbe and a kimelin. 
And prively he sente hem to his in, 
And heng hem in the roof in privetee. 
His owne hand he made laddres three. 
To climben by the ronges and the 

stalkes 3625 

Un-to the tubbes hanginge in the balkes, 
And hem vitailled, bothe trogh and 

tubbe. 
With breed and chese, and good ale in a 

lubbe, 
Suffysinge right y-nogh as for a day. 
But er that he had maad al this array, 
He sente his knave, and eek his wenche 

also, 3631 

Up-on his nede to London for to go. 
on tl 

night. 
He shette his dore with-oute candel- 

light. 
And dressed al thing as it sholde 



be. 



3635 



And shortly, up they clomben alle three: 
They sitten stille wel a furlong-way. 
* Now, Pater-noster, clom ! ' seyde 

Nicholay, 
And ' clom,' quod John, and ' clom,' seyde 

Alisoun. 
This carpenter seyde his devocioun, 3640 
And stille he sit, and biddeth his preyere, 
Awaytinge on the reyn, if he it here. 



The dede sleep, for wery bisinesse, 
Fil on this carpenter right, as I gesse, 
Aboute corfew-tyme, or litel more; 3645 
For travail of his goost he groneth sore, 
And eft he routeth, for his heed mislay. 
Doun of the laddre stalketh Nicholay, 
And Alisoun, ful softe adoun she spedde; 
With-outen wordes mo, they goon to 

bedde 3650 

Ther-as the carpenter is wont to lye. 
Ther was the revel and the melodye; 
And thus lyth Alison and Nicholas, 
In bisinesse of mirthe and of solas. 
Til that the belle of laudes gan to 

ringe, 3655 

And freres in the chauncel gonne singe. 
This parish-clerk, this amorous Ab- 

solon, 
That is for love alwey so wo bigon, 
Up-on the Monday was at Oseneye 
With companye, him to disporte and 

pleye, 3660 

And axed up-on cas a cloisterer 
Ful prively after lohn the carpenter; 
And he drough him a-part out of the 

chirche. 
And seyde, ' I noot, I saugh him here nat 

wirche 
Sin Saterday; I trow that he be 

went 3665 

For timber, ther our abbot hath him 

sent; 
For he is wont for timber for to go. 
And dwellen at the grange a day or two; 
Or elles he is at his hous, certeyn; 
Wher that he be, I can nat sothly 

seyn.' 3670 

This Absolon ful loly was and light. 
And thoghte, ' now is tyme wake al 

night; 
For sikirly I saugh him nat stiringe 
Aboute his dore sin day bigan to springe. 
So moot I thryve, I shal, at cokkes 

crowe, 3675 

Ful prively knokken at his windowe 
That stant ful lowe up-on his boures wal. 
To Alison now vvol I tellen al 
My love-longing, for yet I shal nat misse 
That at the leste wey I shal hir 

kisse. 3680 

Som maner confort shal I have, parfay, 
My mouth hath icched al this longe day; 
That is a signe of kissing atte leste. 



3684-3754-] 



A. THE MILLERES TALE. 



49 



Al night me mette eek, I was at a feste. 
Therfor I wol gon slepe an houre or 

tvveye, 3685 

And al the night than wol I wake and 

pleye.' 
Whan that the firste cok hath crowe, 

anon 
Up rist this loly lover Absolon, 
And him arrayeth gay, at point-devys. 
But first he cheweth greyn and 

lycorys, 3690 

To smellen swete, er he had kembd his 

heer. 
Under his tonge a trewe love he beer, 
For ther-by wende he to ben gracious. 
He rometh to the carpenteres hous, 
And stille he stant under the shot- 

windowe; 3695 

Un-to his brest it raughte, it was so lowe; 
And softe he cogheth with a semi-soun — 

* What do ye, hony-comb, swete Alisoun? 
My faire brid, my swete cinamome, 
Awaketh, lemman myn, and speketh to 

me ! 3700 

Wei litel thenken ye up-on my wo, 
That for your love I swete ther I go. 
No wonder is thogh that 1 swelte and 

swete ; 
I moorne as doth a lamb after the tete. 
Y-wis, lemman, I have swich love- 

longinge, 37^5 

That lyk a turtel trewe is my moorninge; 
I may nat ete na more than a mayde.' 
' Go fro the window, lakke fool,' she 

sayde, 

* As help me god, it wol nat be " com ba 

me," 
I love another, and elles I were to 

blame, ZT^^ 

Wei bet than thee, by lesu, Absolon ! 
Go forth thy wey, or I wol caste a ston, 
And lat me slepe, a twenty devel wey ! ' 

* Alias,' quod Absolon, ' and weylawey ! 
That trewe love was ever so yvel 

biset! 3715 

Than kisse me, sin it may be no bet. 
For lesus love and for the love of me.' 

* Wiltow than go thy wey ther-with?' 

quod she. 
*Ye, certes, lemman,' quod this 

Absolon. 
'Thanne make thee redy,' quod she, 

* I come anon;' 3720 



And un-to Nicholas she seyde stille, 
*Now hust, and thou shalt laughenal thy 

fille.' 
This Absolon doun sette him on his 

knees. 
And seyde, ' I am a lord at alle degrees; 
For after this I hope ther cometh 

more ! 3725 

Lemman, thy grace, and swete brid, thyn 

ore ! ' • ^ 

The window she undoth, and that in ^ 

haste, 
* Have do,' quod she, ' com of, and speed 

thee faste. 
Lest that our neighebores thee espye.' 
This Absolon gan wype his mouth ful 

drye; 3730 

Derk was the night as pich, or as the 

cole. 
And at the window out she putte hirhole, 
And Absolon, him fil no bet ne wers. 
But with his mouth he kiste hir naked ers 
Ful savourly, er he was war of this. 3735 
Abak he sterte, and thoghte it was 

amis, 
For wel he wiste a womman hath no 

herd ; 
He felte a thing al rough and long y-herd, 
And seyde, ' f y ! alias! what have I do?' t 
' Tehee ! ' quod she, and clapte the \ 

window to; 374^ ^ 

And Absolon goth forth a sory pas. 
•A herd, a herd!' quod hende 

Nicholas, 
' By goddes corpus, this goth faire and 

weel ! ' 
This sely Absolon herde every deel, 
And on his lippe he gan for anger 

byte; 3745 

And to him-self he seyde, ' I shal thee 

quyte ! ' 
Who rubbeth now, who froteth now 

his lippes 
With dust, with sond, with straw, with 

clooth, with chippes. 
But Absolon, that seith ful ofte, ' alias ! 
My soule bitake I un-to Sathanas, 3750 
But me wer lever than al this toun,' quod 

he. 
Of this despyt awroken for to be ! 



Aik 



quod 



he, ' alias ! I ne hadde 



y-bleynt ! ' 
His hote love was cold and al y-queynt; 



50 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3755-382< 



For fro that tyme that he had kiste hir 

ers, 3755 

Of paramours he sette nat a kers, 
For he was heled of his maladye; 
Ful ofte paramours he gan deffye, 
And weep as dooth a child that is y-bete. 
A softe paas he wente over the 

strete 3760 

Un-til a smith men cleped daun Gerveys, 
That in his forge smithed plough-harneys; 
He sharpeth shaar and culter bisily. 
This Absolon knokketh al esily, 
And seyde, ' undo, Gerveys, and that 
. anon.' 3765 

*What, who artow?' 'It am I, 

Absolon.' 
* What Absolon ! for Cristes swete tree, 
Why ryse ye so rathe, ey, ben cdi cite ! 
What eyleth yow? som gay gerl, god it 

woot, 
Hath broght yow thus up-on the viri- 

toot; 3770 

By seynt Note, ye woot wel what I mene.' 

This Absolon ne roghte nat a bene 
Of al his pley, no word agayn he yaf; 
He hadde more tow on his distaf 
Than Gerveys knew, and seyde, * freend 

so dere, 3775 

That bote culter in the chimenee here. 
As lene it me, I have ther-with to done, 
And I wol bringe it thee agayn ful sone.' 
Gerveys answerde, ' certes, were it 

gold. 
Or in a poke nobles alle untold, 3780 
Thou sholdest have, as I am trewe 

smith ; 
Ey, Cristes foo ! what wol ye do ther- 
with?' 
*Ther-of,' quod Absolon, *be as be 

may; 
I shal wel telle it thee to-morwe day' — 
And caughte the culter by the colde 

stele. 3785 

Ful softe out at the dore he gan to stele. 
And wente un-to the carpenteres wal. 
He cogheth first, and knokketh ther- 

with-al 
Upon the windowe, right as he dide er. 

This Alison answerde, ' Who is ther 
That knokketh so? I warante it a 

theef.' 3791 

* Why, nay,' quod he, * god woot, my 

swete leef. 



] 



I am thyn Absolon, my dereling ! 

Of gold,' quod he, * I have thee broght 

ring; 37^ 

My moder yaf it me, so god me save, 
Ful fyn it is, and ther-to wel y-grave 
This wol I yeve thee, if thou me kisse ! 

This Nicholas was risen for to pisse, 
And thoghte he wolde amenden al th 

lape. 
He sholde kisse his ers er that he scapi 
And up the windowe dide he hastily 380 
And out his ers he putteth prively 
Over the buttok, to the haunche-bon; 
And ther-with spak this clerk, this Ab 

Ion, 
* Spek, swete brid, I noot nat wher th 
f/- art.' 3805 c 

j This Nicholas anon leet flee a fart. 
As greet as it had been a thonder-dent, 
That with the strook he was almost i 

y-blent; 
And he was redy with his iren hoot. 
And Nicholas amidde the ers he smoot. 
Of gooth the skin an hande-brede 

aboute, 381 1 

The bote culter brende so his toute. 
And for the smert he wende for to dye. 
As he were wood, for wo he gan to crye — • 
' Help ! water ! water ! help, for goddes 

herte!' 3815 

:, This carpenter out of his slomber 

sterte, 
And herde oon cryen * water ' as he were 

wood. 
And thoghte, 'Alias! now comth Now- 

elis flood ! ' 
He sit him up with-outen wordes mo. 
And with his ax he smoot the corde a- 

two, 3820 

And doun goth al; he fond neither to 

selle, 
Ne breed ne ale, til he cam to the selle 
Upon the floor; and ther aswowne he 

lay. 
Up sterte hir Alison, and Nicholay, 
And cryden * out ' and ' harrow ' in the : 

strete. 3825 : 

The neighebores, bothe smale and grete, 
In ronnen, for to gauren on this man, 
That yet aswowne he lay, bothe pale and 

wan ; 
For with the fal he brosten hadde his 

arm; 



3830-3899-] 



A. THE REEVE'S PROLOGUE. 



But stonde he nioste un-to his owne 

harm. 3830 

For whan he spak, he was anon bore 

doun 
With hende Nicholas and Ahsoun. 
Theytolden every man that he was wood, 
He was agast so of ' Nowehs flood ' 
Thurgh fantasye, that of his vanitee 3835 
He hadde y-boght him kneding-tubbes 

three, 
And hadde hem hanged in the roof 

above ; 
And that he preyed hem, for goddes love, 
To sitten in the roof, par cofiipanye. 3839 

The folk gan laughan at his fantasye; 
lu-to the roof they kyken and they gape. 

Here endetJi the 



And turned al his harm un-to a Tape. 
P^or what so that this carpenter answerde, 
It was for noght, no man his reson herde; 
With othes grete he was so sworn adoun, 
That he was holden wood in al the toun ; 
For every clerk anon-right heeld with 

other. 3847 

They seyde, ' the man is wood, my leve 

brother; ' 
And every wight gan laughen of this stryf. 
Thus swyved was the carpenteres wyf, 
For al his keping and his lalousye ; 
And Absolon hath kist hir nether ye; 
And Nicholas is scalded in the toute. 
This tale is doon, and god save al the 

route ! 3854 

Milk re his tale. 



THE REEVE'S PROLOGUE. 



[ The prologe of the Reves tale. 

\ 

\ Whan folk had laughen at this nyce cas 

Of Absolon and hende Nicholas, 3856 
: Diverse folk diversely they seyde; 
'• But, for the more part, they loughe and 
pleyde, 

Ne at this tale I saugh no man him 
greve. 

But it were only Osewold the Reve, 3860 

By-cause he was of carpenteres craft. 

• A litel ire is in his herte y-laft. 

He gan to grucche and blamed it a lyte. 
' So theek,' quod he, ' ful wel coude I 
yow quyte 
' Witli blering of a proud milleres ye, 3865 
I If that me liste speke of ribaudye. 
But ik am old, me list not pley for age; 
Gias-tyme is doon, my fodder is now 

forage. 
This whyte top wryteth myne olde yeres, 
Myn herte is al-so mowled as myne heres, 

• But-if I fare as dooth an open-ers; 3871 
'■ That ilke fruit is ever leng the wers, 

■ Til it be roten in mullok or in stree. 
We olde men, I drede, so fare we; 
Til we be roten, can we nat be rype ; 3875 
We hoppen ay, whyl that the world wol 

pype. 
For in oure wil ther stiketh ever a nayl, 



To have an hoor heed and a grene tayl, 
As hath a leek; for thogh our might be 

goon. 
Our wil desireth folie ever in oon. 3880 
For whan we may nat doon, than wol we 

speke; 
Yet in our asshen olde is fyr y-reke. 
Foure gledes han we, whiche I shal 

devyse, 
Avaunting, lying, anger, coveityse; 
Thise foure sparkles longen un-to 

elde. 3885 

Our olde lemes mowe wel been unwelde, 
But wil ne shal nat faillen, that is sooth. 
And yet ik have alvvey a coltes tooth, 
As many a yeer as it is passed henne 
Sin that my tappe of lyf bigan to 

renne. 3890 

For sikerly, whan I was bore, anon 
Deeth drogh the tappe of lyf and lect it 

gon; 
And ever sith hath so the tappe y-ronne, 
Til that almost al empty is the tonne. 
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the 

chimbe; 3895 

The sely tonge may wel ringe and chimbe 

Of wrecchednesse that passed is ful yore; 

With olde folk, save dotage, is namore.' 

Whan that our host hadde herd this 

sermoning, 



52 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3900-3964. 



He gaii to speke as lordly as a king; 3900 
He seide, * what amounteth al this 

wit? 
What shul we speke alday of holy 

writ ? 
The devel made a reve for to preche, 
And of a souter a shipman or a leche. 
Sey forth thy tale, and tarie nat the 

tyme, 3905 

Lo, Depeford ! and it is half-way pryme. 
Lo, Grenewich, ther many a shrevve is 

inne; 
It were al tyme thy tale to biginne.' 
*No\v, sires,' quod this Osewold the 

Reve, 



' I pray yow alle that ye nat yow 

grevc, 3910 

Thogh I answere and somdel sette his 

howve; 
For leveful is with force force of-showve. 
This dronke millere hath y-told us heer. 
How that bigyled was a carpenteer, 
Peraventure in scorn, for I am oon. 3915 
And, by your leve, I shal him quyte 

anoon; 
Right in his cherles termes wol I speke'. 
I pray to god his nekke mote breke; 
He can wel in myn ye seen a stalke, 
But in his owne he can nat seen a 

balke. 3920 



THE REVES TALE. 



Here bigiiineth the Reves tale. 

At Trumpington, nat fer fro Cantebrigge, 
Ther goth a brook and over that a brigge, 
Up-on the whiche brook ther stant a 

melle ; 
And this is verray soth that I yow telle. 
A Miller was ther dwelling many a 

day; 3925 

As eny pecok he was proud and gay. 
Pypen he coude and fisshe, and nettes 

bete, 
And turne coppes, and wel wrastle and 

sliete; 
And by his belt he baar a long panade, 
And of a swerd ful trenchant was the 

blade. 3930 

A loly popper baar he in his pouche; 
Ther was no man for peril dorste him 

touche. 
A Sheffeld thwitel baar he in his hose; 
Round was his face, and camuse was his 

nose. 
As piled as an ape was his skullc. 3935 
He was a market-beter atte fulle. 
Ther dorste no wight hand up-on him 

legge, 
That he ne swoor he sholde anon abegge. 
A theef he was for sothe of corn and 

mele, 
And that a sly, and usaunt for to 

stele. 3940 



His name was hoten deynous Simkin. 
A wyf he hadde, y-comen of noble kin ; 
The person of the toun hir fader was. 
With hir he yaf ful many a panne of 

bras, 
For that Simkin sholde in his blood 

allye. _ - 3945 

She was y-fostred in a nonnerye; 
P^or Simkin wolde no wyf, as he sayde, 
But she were well y-norissed and a 

mayde, 
To saven his estaat of yomanrye. 
And she was proud, and pert as is a 

pye. _ 3950 

A ful fair sighte was it on hem two; 
On haly-dayes biforn hir wolde he go 
With his tipet bounden about his heed, 
And she cam after in a gyte of reed ; 
And Simkin hadde hosen of the 

same. 3955 

Ther dorste no wight clepen hir but 

' dame.' 
Was noon so hardy that wente by the 

weye 
That with hir dorste rage or ones pleye, 
But-if he wt)lde be slayn of Simkin 
With panade, or with knyf, or boyde- 

kin. 3960 

For lalous folk ben perilous evermo, 
Algate they wolde hir wyves wenden so. 
And eek, for she was somdel smoterlich, 
She was as Jignc as water in a dich; 



3965-4033-] 



A. THE REVES TALE. 



53 



And ful of hoker and of bisemare. 3965 
Hir thoughte that a lady sholde hir spare, 
What for hir kinrede and hir nortelrye 
That she had lerned in the nonnerye. 

A doghter hadde they bitwixe hem two 
Of twenty yeer, with-outen any mo, 3970 
Savinge a child that was of half-yeer 

age; 
In cradel it lay and was a propre page. 
This wenche thikke and wel y-growen 

was, 
With camuse nose and yen greye as glas; 
With buttokes brode and brestes rounde 

and hye, 3975 

But right fair was hir heer, I wol nat lye. 

The person of the toun, for she was 

feir. 
In purpos was to maken hir his heir 
Bothe of his catel and his messuage, 3979 
And straunge he made it of hir mariage. 
His purpos was for to bistowe hir hye 
In-to som worthy blood of auncetrye ; 
For holy chirches good moot been de- 

spended 
On holy chirches blood, that is descended. 
Therfore he wolde his holy blood hon- 

oure, ^ 3985 

Though that he holy chirche sholde 

devoure. 
Gret soken hath this miller, out of 

doute. 
With whete and malt of al the land 

aboute; 
And nameliche ther was a greet collegge. 
Men clepen the Soler-halle at Cante- 

bregge, 3990 

Ther was hir whete and eek hir malt 

y-grounde. 
And on a day it happed, in a stounde, 
Sik lay the maunciple on a maladye; 
Men wenden wisly that he sholde dye. 
For which this miller stal bothe mele 

and corn 3995 

An hundred tyme more than biforn; 
For ther-biforn he stal but curteisly, 
But now he was a theef outrageously. 
For which the wardeyn chidde and made 

fare. 3999 

But ther-of sette the miller nat a tare; 
He craketh boost, and swoor it was nat 

so. 
Than were ther yonge povre clerkes 

two. 



That dwelten in this halle, of which I 

seye. 
Testif they were, and lusty for to pleye. 
And, only for hir mirthe and revel- 
rye, 4CX)5 
Up-on the wardeyn bisily they crye, 
To yeve hem leve but a litel stounde 
To goon to mille and seen hir corn 

y-grounde ; 
And hanlily, they dorste leye hir nekke. 
The miller shold nat stele hem half a 

pekke 4010 

Of corn by sleighte, ne by force hem 

reve; 
And at the laste the wardeyn yaf hem 

leve. 
lohn hight that oon, and Aleyn hight 

that other; 
Of o toun were they born, that highte 

Strother, 
Fer in the north, I can nat telle 

where. 4015 

This Aleyn maketh redy al his gere. 
And on an hors the sak he caste anon. 
Forth goth Aleyn the clerk, and also 

John, 
With good swerd and with bokeler by 

hir syde. 
lohn knew the wey, hem nedede no 

gyde, 4020 

And at the mille the sak adoun he 

layth. 
Aleyn spak first, * al hayl, Symond, y- 

fayth; 
How fares thy faire doghter and thy 

wyf? ' 

* Aleyn ! welcome,' quod Simkin, ' by 

my lyf, 
And lohn also, how now, what do ye 
heer? ' 4025 

* Symond,' quod lohn, ' by god, nede 

has na peer; 
Him l)oes serve him-selve that has na 

swayn, 
Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn. 
Our manciple, I hope he wil be deed, 
Swa werkes ay the wanges in his 

heed. 4030 

And forthy is I come, and eek Alayn, 
To grinde our corn and carie it ham 

agayn ; 
I pray yow spede us hethen that ye 

may.' 



54 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4034-4098. 



* It shal be doon,' quod Simkin, ' by 

my fay; 
What wol ye doon whyl that it is in 

hande?' 4035 

' By god, right by the hoper vvil I 

stande,' 
Quod lohn, ' and se how that the corn 

gas in; 
Yet saugh I never, by my fader kin, 
How that the hoper wagges til and fra.' 
Aleyn answerde, ' lohn, and wiltow 

swa, 4040 

Than wil I be bynethe, by my croun, 
And se how that the mele falles doun 
In-to the trough ; that sal be my disport. 
P"or lohn, in faith, I may been of your 

sort; 
1 is as ille a miller as are ye.' 4045 

This miller smyled of hir nycetee, 
And thoghte, ' al this nis doon but for a 

wyle ; 
They wene that no man may hem bi- 

gyle; 
But, l)y my thrift, yet shal I blere hir 

ye 
For al the sleighte in hir philosophye. 
The more queynte crekes that they 

make, 405 1 

The more wol I stele whan I take. 
In stede of flour, yet wol I yeve hem 

bren. 
"The gretteste clerkes been noght the 

wysest men," 
As whylom to the wolf thus spak the 

mare; 4^55 

Of al hir art I counte noght a tare.' 

Out at the dore he gooth ful prively, 
Whan that he saugh his tyme, softely; 
He loketh up and doun til he hath 

founde 
The clerkes hors, ther as it stood y- 

bounde 4060 

Bihinde the mille, under a levesel; 
And to the hors he gooth him faire and 

wel; 
He strepeth of the brydel right anon. 
And whan the hors was loos, he ginneth 

gon 
Toward the fen, ther wilde mares renne, 
Forth with wehee, thurgh thikk and 

thurgh thenne. 4066 

This miller gooth agayn, no word he 

seyde, 



But dooth his note, and with the clerkes 

pleyde, 
Til that hir corn was faire and wel 

y-grounde. 
And whan the mele is sakked and y- 

bounde, 4070 

This lohn goth out and fynt his hors 

away. 
And gan to crye ' harrow ' and * weyla- 

way ! 
Our hors is lorn ! Alayn, for goddes 

banes, 
Step on thy feet, com out, man, al at 

anes ! 
Alias, our wardeyn has his palfrey lorn.' 
This • Aleyn al forgat, bothe mele and 

corn, 4076 

Al was out of his mynde his housbond- 

rye. 
'What? whilk way is he geen?' he gan 

to crye. 
The wyf cam leping inward with a ren, 
She seyde, ' alias ! your hors goth to the 

fen 4080 

With wilde mares, as faste as he may go. 
Unthank come on his hand that bond 

him so, 
And he that bettre sholde han knit the 

reyne ' 
' Alias,' quod lohn, ' Aleyn, for Cristes 

peyne, 
Lay doun thy swerd, and I wil myn 

alswa; 4085 

I is ful wight, god waat, as is a raa; 
By goddes herte he sal nat scape us 

bathe. 

Why nadstow pit the capul in the lathe? 

Il-hayl, by god, Aleyn, thou is a fonne ! ' 

This sely clerkes han ful faste y-ronne 

To-ward the fen, bothe Aleyn and eek 

lohn 4091 

And whan the miller saugh that they 

were gun. 
He half a busshel of hir flour hath 

take. 
And bad his wyf go knede it in a cake. 
He seyde, ' I trowe the clerkes were 

aferd ; 4095 

Yet can a miller make a clerkes berd 
For al his art; now lat hem goon hir 

weye. 
Lo wher they goon, ye, lat the children 

pleye; 



4099-4166.] 



A. THE REVES TALE. 



55 



They gete him nat so lightly, by my 

croun ! ' 
Thise sely clerkes rennen up and doun 
With ' keep, keep, stand, stand, lossa, 

vvarderere, 410 1 

Ga whistle thou, and I shal kepe him 

here ! ' 
But shortly, til that it was verray night. 
They coude nat, though they do al hir 

might, 
Hir capul cacche, he ran alwey so faste. 
Til in a dich they caughte him atte 

laste. 4106 

Wery and weet, as beste is in the reyn, 

Comth sely lohn, and with him comth 

Aleyn. 
* Alias,' quod lohn, 'the day that I was 

born ! 
Now are we drive til hething and til 

scorn. 41 10 

Our corn is stole, men wil us foles calle. 
Bathe the wardeyn and our felawes alle, 
And namely the miller; weylaway ! ' 
Thus pleyneth lohn as he goth by the 

way 
Toward the mille, and Bayard in his 

hond. 41 15 

The miller sitting by the fyr he fond, 
For it was night, and forther mighte 

they noght; 
But, for the love of god, they him bi- 

soght 
Of herberwe and of ese, as for hir peny. 
The miller seyde agayn, ' if ther be 

eny, 4120 

Swich as it is, yet shal ye have your 

part. 
Myn hous is streit, but ye han lerned 

art; 
Ye conne by argumentes make a place 
A myle brood of twenty foot of space. 
Lat see now if this place may suffyse. 
Or make it roum with speche, as is youre 

gyse.' 4126 

* Now, Symond,' seyde lohn, ♦ by seint 

Cutberd, 
Ay is thou mery, and this is faire an- 
swer d. 
I have herd seyd, man sal taa of tvva 

thinges 
Slyk as he fyndes, or taa slyk as he 

bringes. 4130 

But specially, I pray thee, hoste dere, 



Get us som mete and drinke, and make 

us chere. 
And we wil payen trewely atte fulle. 
With empty hand men may na haukes 

tulle; 
Lo here our silver, redy for to spende.' 
This miller in-to toun his doghter 

sende 4136 

For ale and breed, and rosted hem a 

goos, 
And bond hir hors, it sholde nat gon 

loos; 
And in his owne chambre hem made a 

bed 
With shetes and with chalons faire y- 

spred, 4140 

Noght from his owne bed ten foot or 

twelve. 
His doghter hadde a bed, al by hir-selve. 
Right in the same chambre, by and by; 
It mighte be no bet, and cause why, 
Ther was no roumer herberwe in the 

place. 4145 

They soupen and they speke, hem to 

solace. 
And drink en ever strong ale atte beste. 
Aboute midnight wente they to reste. 
Wei hath this miller vernisshed his 

heed; 
Ful pale he was for-dronken, and nat 

reed. 4150 

He yexeth, and he speketh thurgh the 

nose 
As he were on the quakke, or on the 

pose. 
To bedde he gooth, and v/ith him goth 

his wyf. 
As any lay she light was and lolyf. 
So was hir loly whistle wel y-wet. 4155 
The cradel at hir beddes feet is set. 
To rokken, and to yeve the child to 

souke. 
And whan that dronken al was in the 

crouke, 4158 

To bedde went the doghter right anon; 
To bedde gooth Aleyn and also lohn; 
Ther nas na more, hem nedede no dwale. 
This miller hath so wisly bidded ale, 
That as an hors he snorteth in his sleep, 
Ne of his tayl bihinde he took no keep. 
His wyf bar him a burdon, a ful strong, 
Men mighte hir routing here two fur- 
long; 4166 



56 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4167-4242. 



The vvenche routeth eek par coinpanye. 

Aleyn the clerk, that herd this ineludye, 
He poked lohn, and seyde, 'slepestow? 
Herdestovv ever slyk a sang er now? 4 170 
Lo, whilk a comphne is y-mel hem alle ! 
A wikle fyr up-on thair bodyes falle ! 
Wha herkened ever slyk a ferly thing? 
Ye, they sal have the flour of il ending. 
This lange night ther tydes me na 

reste; 4^75 

But yet, na fors; al sal be for the beste. 
For lohn,' seyde he, * als ever moot I 

thryve, 
If that I may, yon wenche wil I swyve. 
Som esement has lawe y-shapen us; 
For lohn, ther is a lawe that says 

thus, 4180 

That gif a man in a point be y-greved, 
That in another he sal be releved. 
Our corn is stuln, shortly, it is na nay. 
And we han had an il fit al this day. 
And sin 1 sal have neenamendement, 4185 
Agayn my los 1 wil have esement. 
By goddes saule, it sal neen other be ! ' 
This lohn answerde, 'Alayn, avyse 

thee, 
The miller is a perilous man,' he seyde, 

* And gif that he out of his sleep 

abreyde, 4 1 90 

He mighte doon us bathe a vileinye.' 
Aleyn answerde, ' 1 count him nat a 

flye; ' 
And up he rist, and by the wenche he 

crepte. 
This wenche lay upright, and faste slepte, 
Til he so ny was, er she mighte 

espye, 4195 

That it had been to late for to crye, 
And shortly for to scyn, they were at on; 
Now pley, Aleyn ! for I wol speke of 

lohn. 
This lohn lyth stille a furlong-wey or 

two, 
And to him-self he maketh routhe and 

wo : " 4200 

* Alias ! ' quod he, ' this is a wikked lape; 
Now may I seyn that I is but an ape. 
Yet has my felawe som-what for his 

harm; 
He has the milleris doghter in his arm. 
He auntred him, and has his nedes sped. 
And I lye as a draf-sek in my bed; 4206 
And when this lape is tald another day, 



I sal been halde a daf, a cokenay ! 

I wil aryse, and auntre it, by my fayth ! 

" Unhardy is unsely," thus men 

sayth.' 4210 

And up he roos and softely he wente 
Un-to the cradel, and in his hand it 

hente. 
And baar it softe un-to his beddes feet. 

Sone after this the vvyf hir routing leet, 
And gan awake, and wente hir out to 

pisse, 4215 

And gam agayn, and gan hir cradel 

misse, 
And groped heer and ther, but she fond 

noon. 
* Alias ! ' quod she, * I hadde almost mis- 
goon; 
I hadde almost gon to the clerkes bed. 
Ey, boiediciie ! thanne hadde I foule 

y-sped : ' 4220 

And forth she gooth til she the cradel 

fond. 
She gropeth alwey forther with hir bond, 
And fond the bed, and thoghte noght 

but good, 
By-cause that the cradel by it stood. 
And niste wher she was, for it was 

derk; 4225 

But faire and wel she creep in to the 

clerk, 
And lyth ful stille, and wolde han caught 

a sleep. 
With-inne a whyl this lohn the clerk up 

leep. 
And on this gode wyf he leyth on sore. 
So mery a fit ne hadde she nat ful 

yore; 4230 

He priketh harde and depe as he were 

mad. 
This loly lyf han thise two clerkes lad 
Til that the thridde cok bigan to singe. 

Aleyn wex wery in the daweninge. 
For he had swonken al the longe 

night; ' 4235 

And seyde, ' far wel, Malin, swete wight ! 
The day is come, I may no lenger byde; 
But evermo, wher so Ego or ryde, 
I is thyn awen clerk, swa have I seel ! ' 
' Now dere lemman,' quod she, * go, 

far weel ! 4240 

But er thou go, o thing I wol thee telle, 
Whan that thou wendest homward by 

the melie, 



4243-43 1 2. J 



A. THE REVES TALE. 



57 



Right at the entree of the dore bihinde, 
Thou shalt a cake of half a busshel finde 
That was y-maked of thyn owne 

mele, 4245 

Which that I heelp my fader for to stele. 
And, gode lemman, god thee save and 

kepe ! ' 
And with that word almost she gan to 

wepe. 
Aleyn up-rist, and thoughte, * er that it 

dawe, 
I wol go crepen in by my felawe; ' 4250 
And fond the cradel with his hand anon, 
•By god,' thoghte he, ' al wrang I have 

misgon ; 
Myn heed is toty of my swink to-night. 
That maketh me that I go nat aright, 
I woot wel by the cradel, I have 

misgo, 4255 

Heer lyth the miller and his wyf also.' 
And furth he goth, a twenty devel way, 
Un-to the bed ther-as the miller lay. 
He wende have cropen by his felawe 

lohn; 
And by the miller in he creep anon, 4260 
And caughte hym by the nekke, and 

softe he spak : 
He seyde, ' thou, lohn, thou swynes- 

heed, awak 
For Cristes saule, and heer a noble game. 
For by that lord that called is seint lame, 
As 1 have thryes, in thisshorte night, 4265 
Swyved the milleres doghter bolt-upright, 
Whyl thow hast as a coward been agast.' 
*Ye, false harlot",' quod the miller, 

'hast? 
A ! false traitour ! false clerk ! ' quod he, 
*Thou shalt be deed, by goddes dig- 

nitee ! 4270 

Who dorste be so bold to disparage 
My doghter, that is come of swich 

linage? ' 
And by the throte-boUe he caughte 

Alayn, 
And he hente hym despitously agayn, 
And on the nose he smoot him with his 

fest. 4275 

Doun ran the blody streem up-on his 

brest ; 
And in the floor, with nose and mouth 

to-broke. 
They walwe as doon two pigges in a 

poke. 



And up they goon, and doun agayn 

anon, 
Til that the miller sporned at a 

stoon, 4280 

And doun he fil bakward up-on his wyf. 
That wiste no-thing of this nyce stryf; 
For she was falle aslepe a lyte wight 
With lohn the clerk, that waked hedde 

al night. 
And with the fal, out of hir sleep she 

breyde — 4285 

' Help, holy croys of Bromeholm,' she 

seyde, 
In manus ttias ! lord, to thee I calle ! 
Awak, Symond ! the feend is on us falle, 
Myn herte is broken, help, I nam but 

deed; 
There lyth oon up my wombe and up myn 

heed; 4290 

Help, Simkin, for the false clerkes fighte.' 

This lohn sterte up as faste as ever he 

mighte. 
And graspeth by the walles to and fro, 
To finde a staf; and she sterte up also. 
And knew the estres bet than dide this 

lohn, 4295 

And by the wal a staf she fond anon, 
And saugh a litel shimering of a light, 
For at an ht^le in shoon the mone bright; 
And by that light she saugh hem bothe 

two, 
But sikerly she niste who was who, 4300 
But as she saugh a whyt thing in hir ye. 
And whan she gan the whyte thing 

espye. 
She wende the clerk hadde wered a vol- 

upeer. 
And with the staf she drough ay neer and 

neer. 
And wende han hit this Aleyn at the 

fulle, 4305 

And smoot the miller on the pyled 

skulle, 
That doun he gooth and cryde, ' harrow ! 

I dye ! ' 
Thise clerkes bete him weel and lete him 

lye; 
And greythen hem, and toke hir hors 

anon, 
And eek hir mele, and on hir wey they 

gon. 4310 

And at the mille yet they toke hir cake 
Of half a busshel flour, ful wel y-bake. 



58 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4313-4364. 



Thus is the proude miller wel y-bete, 
And hath y-lost the grinding of the 

whete, 
And payed for the soper every-deel 4315 
Of Aleyn and of lohn, that bette him 

weel. 
His vvyf is swyved, and his doghter als; 
Lo, swich it is a miller to be fals ! 



And therfore this proverbe is seyd ful 

sooth, 
* Him thar nat wene wel that yvel 

dooth; 4320 

A gyiour shal him-self bigyled be.' 
And God, that sitteth heighe in magestee, 
Save al this companye grete and smale ! 
Thus have I quit the miller in my tale. 



Here is ended the Reves tale. 



THE COOK'S PROLOGUE. 



The prologe of the Cokes Tale. 

The Cook of London, whyl the Reve 

spak, 4325 

For loye, him thoughte, he clawed him 

on the bak, 
* Ha ! ha ! ' quod he, ' for Cristes pas- 

sioun, 
This miller hadde a sharp conclusioun 
Upon his argument of herbergage ! 
Wel seyde Salomon in his langage, 4330 
"Ne bringe nat every man in-to thyn 

hous; " 
For herberwing by nighte is perilous. 
Wel oghte a man avysed for to be 
Whom that he broghte in-to his privetee. 
I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and 

care, 4335 

If ever, sith I highte Hogge of Ware, 
Herde I a miller bettre y-set a-werk. 
He hadde a lape of malice in the derk. 
But god forbede that we stinten here; 
And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to 

here 4340 

A tale of me, that am a povre man, 
I wol yow telle as wel as ever I can 
A litel lape that fil in our citee.' 

Our host answerde, and seide, ' I 

graunte it thee ; 
Now telle on, Roger, loke that it be 

good; 4345 



For many a pastee hastow laten blood, 
And many a lakke of Dover hastow sold 
That hath been twyes hoot and twyes 

cold. 
Of many a pilgrim hastow Cristes curs. 
For of thy persly yet they fare the 

wors, 4350 

That they han eten with thy stubbel- 

goos; 
For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos. 
Now telle on, gentil Roger, by thy name. 
But yet I pray thee, be nat wrooth for 

game, 
A man may seye ful sooth in game and 

Pley.' 4355 

'Thou seist ful sooth,' quod Roger, 

' by my fey, 
But "sooth pley, quaad pley," as the 

Fleming seith; 
And ther-fore, Herry Bailly, by thy feith, 
Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen 

heer, 
Though that my tale be of an hos- 

tileer. 4360 

But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit. 
But er we parte, y-wis, thou shalt be 

quit.' 
And ther-with-al he lough and made 

chere. 
And seyde his tale, as ye shul after 

here. 



Thus endeth the Prologe of the Cokes tale 



4365-4422.] 



A. THE COKES TALE. 



59 



THE COKES TALE. 



Heer bigynneth the Cokes tale. 

A PRENTIS whylom dwelled in our 

citee, 4365 

And of a craft of vitaillers was he; 
Gaillard he was as goldfinch in the 

shawe, 
Broun as a berie, a propre short felawe, 
With lokkes blake, y-kempt ful fetisly. 
Dauncen he coude so wel and lolily, 4370 
That he was cleped Perkin Revelour. 
He was as ful of love and paramour 
As is the hyve ful of hony swete; 
Wel was the wenche with him mighte 

mete. 
At every brydale wolde he singe and 

hoppe, 4375 

He loved bet the taverne than the shoppe. 

For whan ther any ryding was in 

Chepe, 
Out of the shoppe thider wolde he lepe. 
Til that he hadde al the sighte y-seyn, 
And daunced wel, he wolde nat come 

ageyn. _ 4380 

And gadered him a meinee of his sort 
To hoppe and singe, and maken swich 

disport. 
And ther they setten steven for to mete 
To pleyen at the dys in swich a strete. 
For in the toune nas ther no prentys, 4385 
That fairer coude caste a paire of dys 
Than Perkin coude, and ther-to he was 

free 
Of his dispense, in place of privetee. 
That fond his maister wel in his chaffare; 
For often tyme he fond his box ful 

bare. 4390 

For sikerly a prentis revelour, 
That haunteth dys, riot, or paramour. 
His maister shal it in his shoppe abye, 
Al have he no part of the minstralcye; 

Of this Cokes tale luak. 



For thefte and riot, they ben conver- 
tible, 4395 
Al conne he pleye on giterne or ribible. 
Revel and trouthe, as in a low degree. 
They been ful wrothe al day, as men may 
see. 
This loly prentis with his maister 
hood, 4399 
Til he were ny out of his prentishood, 
Al were he snibbed bothe erly and late, 
And somtyme lad with revel to New- 
gate; 
But atte laste his maister him bithoghte, 
Up-on a day, whan he his paper soghte. 
Of a proverbe that seith this same word, 
' Wel bet is roten appel out of hord 4406 
Than that it rotie al the remenaunt.' 
So fareth it by a riotous servaunt; 
It is wel lasse haim to lete him pace. 
Than he shende alle the servants in the 
place. 4410 
Therfore his maister yaf him acquitance, 
And bad him go with sorwe and with 

meschance; 
And thus this loly prentis hadde his 

leve. 
Now lat him riote al the night or leve. 
And for ther is no theef with-oute a 
k)uke, 4415 

That helpeth him to wasten and to 

souke 
Of that he brybe can or borwe may, 
Anon he sente his bed and his array 
Un-to a compeer of his owne sort, 
That lovede dys and revel and disport, 
And hadde a wyf that heeld for counte- 
nance 4421 
A shoppe, and swyved for hir susten- 
ance. 

***** * 

'(/ Chaucer na more. 



[For The Tale of Gamelin, see the Appendix.] 



6o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1-67. 



GROUP B. 
INTRODUCTION TO THE MAN OF LAW'S PROLOGUE. 



The wordes of the Iloost to the companye. 

Our Hoste sey wel that the brighte 

Sonne 
The ark of his artificial day had ronne 
The fourthe part, and half an houre, and 

more; 
And though he were not dope expert in 

lore, 
lie wiste it was the eightetethe day 5 
Of April, that is messager to May; 
And sey wel that the shadvvc of every 

tree 
Was as in lengthe the same quantitee 
That was the body erect that caused it. 
And therfor by the shadwe he took his 

wit 10 

That Phebus, which that shoon so clere 

and brighte, 
Degrees was fyve and fourty clombe on 

highte; 
And for that day, as in that latitude. 
It was ten of the clokke, he gan con- 
clude, 
And sodeynly he plighte his hors aboute. 
* Lordinges,' quod he, ' I warne yow, al 

this route, 16 

The fourthe party of this day is goon; 
Now, for tlie love of god and of seint 

lohn, 
Leseth no tyme, as ferforth as ye may; 
Lordinges, the tyme wasteth night and 

day, 20 

And steleth from us, what privcly slep- 

inge. 
And what thurgh necligence in our wak- 

inge, 
As dooth the streem, that turneth never 

agayn. 
Descending fro the montaigne in-to 

playn. 24 

Wel can Senek, and many a philosophre 
Biwailen tyme, more than gold in cofre. 
" For los of catel may recovered be. 
But los of tyme shendeth us," quod he. 
It wol nat come agayn, with-outen drede, 
Na more than wol Malkins mayden- 

hede, 30 



Whan she hath lost it in hir wantow- 

nesse; 
Lat us nat moulcn thus in ydelnesse. 
* Sir man of lawe,' quod he, * so have ye 

blis, 
Tel us a tale anon, as forward is; 
Ye been submitted thurgh your free 

assent 35 

To stonde in this cas at my lugement. 
Acquiteth yow, and holdcth your ]:)iheste, 
Than have ye doon your devoir atte 

leste.' 
* Hbste,' quod he, ' depardieux ich 

assente. 
To breke forward is not myn entente. 40 
Biheste is dette, and I wol holde fayn 
Al my biheste; I can no better seyn. 
For swich lawe as man yeveth another 

wight. 
He sholde him-selven uscn it by right; 
Thus wol our text; but natheles cer- 

teyn 45 

T can right now no thrifty tale seyn, 
But Chaucer, though he can but lewedly 
On metres and on ryming craftily, 
Hath seyd hem in swich English as he 

can 49 

Of olde tyme, as knoweth many a man. 
And if he have not seyd hem, leve 

brother. 
In o book, he hath seyd hem in another. 
For he hath told of loveres up and doun 
Mo than Ovyde made of mencioun 
In his Epistelles, that been ful olde. 55 
What sholde I tellen hem, sin they ben 

tolde ? 
In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcion, 
And sithen hath he spoke of everichon, 
Thise noble wyves and thise loveres eke. 
Who-so that wol his large volume seke 
Cleped the Seintes Legende of Cupyde, 
Ther may he seen the large woundes 

wyde 62 

Of Lucresse, and of Babilan Tisbee; 
The swerd of Dido for the false Enee; 
The tree of Phillis for hir Demophon; 65 
The pleinte of Dianire and Hermion, 
Of Adriane and of Isiphilee; 



68-I33-] B. PROLOGUE OF THE MANNES TALE OF LAWE. 



6i 



The bareyne yle stonding in the see; 
The dreynte Leaiuler f(jr his Erro; 
The teres of Eleyne, and eek the wo 70 
Of Brixseyde, and of thee, Ladoniea; 
The crueltee of thee, queen Medea, 
Thy litel children hanging by the hals 
For thy lason, that was of love so 

fals! 
O ^'permistra, Penelopee, Alceste, 75 
Your wyfhod he comendeth with the 
l)est'e ! 
But certeinly no word ne wryteth he 
Of thilke wikke ensample of Canacee, 
That lovede hir owne brother sinfully; 
Of svviche cursed stories I sey ' fy '; 80 
Or elles of Tyro Apijllonius, 
How that the cursed king Antiochus 
Birafte his doghter of hir maydenhede, 
That is so horrible a tale for to rede, 



Whan he hir threw up-on the pavement. 
And therfor he, of ful avysement, 86 

Nolde never wryte in none of his ser- 

mouns 
Of swiche unkinde abhominaciouns, 
Ne 1 wol noon reherse, if that I may. 
But of my tale how shal I doon this 



day 



90 



Me were looth be lykned, doutelees. 
To Muses that men clepe Pierides — 
Melanio7-phoseos wot what I mene : — 
But natheiees, I recche noght a bene 
Though I come after him with hawe- 

bake; 95 

I speke in prose, and lat him rymes 

make.' 
And with that word he, with a sobre 

chere, 
Bigan his tale, as ye shal after here. 



THE PROLOGE OF THE MANNES TALE OF LAWE. 



O HATEFUL harm ! condicion of poverte ! 

With thurst, with cold, with hunger so 
confounded ! 100 

To asken help thee shameth in thyn 
herte; 

If thou noon aske, with nede artow so 
wounded, 

That verray nede unwrappeth al thy 
wounde hid ! 

Maugree thyn heed, thou most for indi- 
gence 

Or stele, or bcgge, or borwe thy de- 
spence ! 105 

Thou blamest Crist, and seyst ful bit- 
terly, 

He misdeparteth richesse temporal ; 

Thy neighebour thou wytest sinfully, 

And seyst thou hast to lyte, and he hath 
al. 

* Parfay,' seistow, ' somtyme he rekne 
shal, no 

Whan that his tayl shal brennen in the 
glede, 

For he noght helpcth needfuUe in hir 
nede.' 

Herkne what is the sentence of the 
wyse : — 



' Bet is to dyen than have indigence ; ' 
'Thy selve neighebour wol thee de- 

spyse;' 115 

If thou be povre, farwel thy reverence ! 
Yet of the wyse man tak this sentence : — 
' Alle the dayes of povre men Ijen wikke ; ' 
Be war therfor, er thou come in that 

prikke ! 

'If thou be povre, thy brother hateth 
thee, 120 

And alle thy freendes fleen fro thee, 
alas ! ' 

O riche marchaunts, ful of wele ben ye, 

noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas ! 
Your bagges been nat filled with anibes as, 
But with sts cink, than renneth for your 

chaunce ; 125 

At Cristemasse merie may ye daunce ! 

Ye seken lond and see for your winninges, 
As wyse folk ye knowen al thestaat 
Of regnes ; ye ben fadres of tydinges 
And tales, bothe of pees and of debat. 

1 were right now of tales desolat, 131 
Nere that a marchaunt, goon is many a 

yere, 
Me taughte a tale, which that ye shal 
here, 



62 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



Li 34- 1 94. 



THE TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



Here beginneth the Man of Laive his 
Tale. 

In Surrie whylom dvvelte a companye 
Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and 

trevve, 135 

That wyde-wher senten her spycerye, 
Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hevve ; 
Her chafiar was so thrifty and so newe, 
That every wight hath deyntee to chaf- 

fare 
With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir 

ware. 140 

Now fel it, that the maistres of that sort 
Han shapen hem to Rome for to wende ; 
Were it for chapmanhode or for disport, 
Non other message wolde they thider 

sende, 
But comen hem-self to Rome, this is the 

ende ; 145 

And in swich place, as thoughte hem 

avantage 
For her entente, they take her herber- 

gage. 

Soiourned han thise marchants in that 

toun 
A certein tyme, as fel to hir plesance. 
And so bifel, that thexcellent renoun 150 
Of themperoures doghter, dame Cus- 

tance, 
Reported was, with every circumstance, 
Un-to thise Surrien marchants in swich 

wyse. 
Fro day to day, as I shal yow devyse. 

This was the commune vols of every 
man — 155 

' Our Emperour of Rome, god him see, 
A doghter hath that, sin the world bigan. 
To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beautee, 
Nas never swich another as is she ; 
I prey to god in honour hir sustene, 160 
And wolde she were of al Europe the 
quene. 

In hir is heigh beautee, with-oute pryde, 
Yowthe, with-oute grenehede or folye ; 



To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde, 
Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye. 
She is mirour of alle curteisye ; 166 

Hir herte is verray chambre of holi- 

ncsse, 
Hir hand, ministre of fredom foralmesse.' 

And al this vois was soth, as god is 

trevve, 
But now to purpos lat us turne agayn ; 
Thise marchants han doon fraught hir 

shippes newe, 171 

And, whan they han this blisful mayden 

seyn, 
Hoom to Surrye been they went ful fayn, 
And doon her nedes as they han don 

yore, 
And liven in wele ; I can sey yow no 

more. 1 75 

Now fel it, that thise marchants stode in 

grace 
Of him, that was the sowdan of Surrye ; 
For whan they came from any strange 

place. 
He wolde, of his benigne curteisye, 
Make hem good chere, and bisily espye 
Tydings of sondry regnes, for to lere 181 
The wondres that they mighte seen or 

here. 

Amonges othere thinges, specially 
Thise marchants han him told of dame 

Custance, 
So gret noblesse in ernest, ceriously, 185 
That this sowdan hath caught so gret 

plesance 
To han hir figure in his remembrance, 
That al his lust and al his bisy cure 
Was for to love hir whyl his lyf may dure. 

Paraventure in thilke large book 190 

Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen 

was 
With sterres, whan that he his birthe 

took, 
That he for love shulde han his deeth, 

alias ! 
For in the sterres, clerer than is glas, 



195-269.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LA WE. 



63 



Is writen, god wot, who-so coude it 
rede, 195 

The deeth of every man, withouten 
drede. 

In sterres, many a winter ther-biforn, 
Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles, 
Of Pompey, I alius, er they were born ; 
The stryf of Thebes ; and of Ercules, 200 
Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates 
The deeth ; but mennes wittes been so 

dulle, 
That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle. 

This sowdan for his privee conseil sente, 
And, shortly of this mater for to pace, 
He hath to hem declared his entente, 206 
And seyde hem certein, ' but he mighte 

have grace 
To han Custance with-inne a litel space, 
He nas but deed;' and charged hem, in 

bye. 
To shapen for his lyf som remedye. 210 

Diverse men diverse thinges seyden ; 
They argumenten, casten up and doun ; 
Many a subtil resoun forth they leyden. 
They speken of magik and abusioun ; 
But finally, as in conclusioun, 215 

They can not seen in that non avantage, 
Ne in non other wey, save mariage. 

Than sawe they ther-in swich difficultee 
By wey of resoun, for to speke al playn 
By-cause that ther was swich diversitee 
Bitwene hir bothe lawes, that they sayn. 
They trowe ' that no Cristen prince wolde 

fayn 222 

Wed den his child under oure lawes swete 
That us were taught by Mahoun our 

prophete.' 

And he answerde, * rather than I lese 225 
Custance, I wol be cristned doutelees ; 
I mot ben hires, I may non other chese. 
I prey yow holde your arguments in pees; 
Saveth my lyf, and beeth noght recche- 
lees 229 

To geten hir that hath my lyf in cure ; 
For in this wo I may not longe endure.' 

What nedeth gretter dilatacioun? 
I seye, by tretis and embassadrye, 



And by the popes mediacioun, 
And al the chirche, and al the chiv- 
alrye, 235 

That, in destruccioun of Maumetrye, 
And in encrees of Cristes lawe dere, 
They ben acorded, so as ye shal here; 

How that the sowdan and his baronage 
And alle his liges shulde y-cristned 

be, 240 

And he shal han Custance in mariage, 
And certein gold, I noot what quantitee, 
And her-to founden suffisant seurtee; 
This same acord was sworn on eyther 

syde ; 
Now, faire Custance, almighty god thee 

gyde ! 245 

Now wolde som men waiten, as I gesse, 
That I shulde tellen al the purveyance 
That themperour, of his grete noblesse. 
Hath shapen for his doghter dame 

Custance. 
Wel may men knowe that so gret ordi- 
nance 250 
May no man tellen in a litel clause 
As was arrayed for so heigh a cause. 

Bisshopes ben shapen with hir for to 

wende, 
Lordes, ladyes, knightes of renoun. 
And other folk y-nowe, this is the 

ende; 255 

And notifyed is thurgh-out the toun 
That every wight, with gret devocioun, 
Shulde preyen Crist that he this mariage 
Receyve in gree, and spede this viage. 

The day is comen of hir departinge, 260 
I sey, the woful day fatal is come, 
That ther may be no lenger taryinge, 
But forthward they hem dressen, alle and 

some ; 
Custance, that was with sorwe al over- 
come, 
Ful pale arist, and dresseth hir to 
wende; 265 

For wel she seeth ther is non other ende. 

Alias! what wonder is it though she 

wepte, 
That shal be sent to strange nacioun 
Fro freendes, that so tendrely hir kepte, 



64 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[270-339. 



And to be bounden under subiec- 
cioun 270 

Of oon, she knoweth not his condicioun. 

Housbondes been alle gode, and han ben 
yore, 

That knowen wyves, I dar say yow no 
more. 

' Fader,' she sayde, ' thy wrecched chikl 
Custance, 274 

Thy yonge doghter, fostred up so softe, 
And ye, my moder, my soverayn plesance 
Over alle thing, out-taken Crist on-lofte, 
Custance, your child, hir recomandeth 

ofte 
Un-to your grace, for I shal to Surrye, 
Ne shal I never seen yow more with 
ye. 280 

Alias ! un-to the Barbre nacioun 
1 moste anon, sin that it is your wille; 
But Crist, that starf for our redempcioun, 
vSo yeve me grace, his hestes to fullille; 
I, wrecche womman, no fors though I 

spille. 285 

Wommen are born to thraldom and 

penance, 
And to ben under mannes governance.' 

I trowe, at Troye, whan Pirrus brak the 

wal 
Or Ylion brende, at Thebes the citee, 
Nat Rome, for the harm thurgh Hani- 

bal 290 

That Romayns hath venquisshed tymes 

thre, 
Nas herd swich tendre weping for pitee 
As in the chambre was for hir departinge ; 
Bot forth she moot, wher-so she wepe or 

singe. 

O firste moevyng cruel firmament, 295 
With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest 

And hurlest al from Est til Occident, 
That naturelly wolde holde another way. 
Thy crowding set the heven in swich 

array 
At the beginning of this fiers viage, 300 
That cruel Mars hath slayn this mariage. 

Infortunat ascendent tortuous. 

Of which the lord is helples falle, alias ! 



Out of his angle in-to the derkest hous. 
O Mars, O Atazir, as in this cas ! 305 : 

O feble mone, unhappy been thy pas! 
Thou knittest thee ther thou art nat ' 

receyved, 
Ther thou were weel, fro thennes artow 

weyved. 

Imprudent emperour of Rome, alias ! 
Was ther no philosophre in all thy , 

toun? 310 

Is no tyme bet than other in swich cas? 
Of viage is ther noon eleccioun, 
Namely to folk of heigh condicioun, 
Nat whan a rote is of a birthe y-knowe? 
Alias ! we ben to lewed or to slowe. 315 

To shippe is brought this woful faire 
mayde 

Solempnely, with every circumstance. 

' Now lesu Crist be with yow alle,' she 
sayde; 

Ther nis namore but * farewel ! faire \ 
Custance ! ' < 

She peyneth hir to make good counte- 
nance, 320 

And forth I lete hir sayle in this manere, 

And turne I wol agayn to my matere. 

The moder of the sowdan, welle of vyces, 
Espyed hath hir sones pleyn entente, 
How he wol lete his olde sacrifyces, 325 
And right anon she for hir conseil sente; 
And they ben come, to knowe what she 

mente. 
And when assembled was this folk in- 

fere. 
She sette hir doun, and sayde as ye shal 

here. t 

' Lordes,' quod she, *ye knowen* 

everichon, 330 

How that my sone in point is for to lete 
The holy lawes of our Alkaron, 
Yeven by goddes message Makomete. 
But oon avow to grete god I hete, 334 
The lyf shal rather out of my body sterte 
Than Makometes lawe out of myn herte ! 

What shulde us tyden of this newe lawe 
But thraldom to our bodies and pen- 
al. > 
And afterward in heJe to be drawe 



340-408.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



65 



For we reneyed Mahoun our cre- 
ance ? 340 

But, lordes, wol ye maken assurance, 
As I shal seyn, assenting to my lore. 
And I shall make us sauf for evermore ? ' 

They sworen and assenten, every man. 
To live with hir and dye, and by hir 

stonde; 345 

And everich, in the beste wyse he can, 
To strengthen hir shal alle his freendes 

fonde ; 
And she hath this empryse y-take on 

honde. 
Which ye shal heren that I shal devyse. 
And to hem alle she spak right in this 

wyse. 350 

'We shul first feyne us Cristendom to 

take, 
Cold water shal not greve us but a lyte; 
And I shal swich a feste and revel make. 
That, as I trowe, I shal the sowdan quyte. 
For though his wyf be cristned never so 

whyte, 355 

She shal have nede to wasshe awey the 

rede, 
Thogh she a font-ful water with hir 

lede.' 
I 

O sowdanesse, rote of iniquitee. 
Virago, thou Semyram the secounde, 
O serpent under femininitee, 360 

Lyk to the serpent depe in helle 

y-bounde, 
O feyned womman, al that may confounde 
.Vertu and innocence, thurgh thy malyce, 
jjls bred in thee, as nest of every vyce ! 

Satan, envious sin thilke day 365 
That thou were chased from our heritage, 
Wei knowestow to wommen the olde 

1 way ! 

•Thou madest Eva bringe us in servage. 
Thou wolt fordoon this Cristen mariage. 
Thyn instrument so, weylawey the 

whyle ! 370 

Makestow of wommen, whan thou wolt 

begyle. 

This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and 

warie, ,, , 

Leet prively hir confeil goon inr way. 



What sholde I in this tale lenger tarie? 
She rydeth to the sowdan on a day, 375 
And seyde him, that she wolde reneye 

hir lay. 
And Cristendom of preestes handes 

fonge. 
Repenting hir she hethen was so longe, 

Biseching him to doon hir that honour, 
That she moste han the Cristen men to 

feste ; 380 

'To plesen hem I wol do my labour.' 
The sowdan seith, ' I wol don at your 

heste,' 
And knelingthanketh hir of that requeste. 
So glad he was, he niste what to seye; 
She kiste hir sone, and hoom she gooth 

hir weye. 385 

Explicit prima pars. Seqtiihir pars 
secunda. 



Arryved ben this Cristen folk to londe, 
In Surrie, with a greet solempne route, 
And hastily this sowdan sente his sonde. 
First to his moder, and al the regne 

aboute. 
And seyde, his wyf was comen, out of 

doute, 390 

And preyde hir for to ryde agayn the 

quene. 
The honour of his regne to sustene. 

Gret was the prees, and riche was tharray 
Of Surriens and Romayns met y-fere; 
The moder of the sowdan riche and gay, 
Receyveth hir with al-so glad a chere 396 
As any moder mighte hir doghter dere, 
And to the nexte citee ther bisyde 
A softe pas solempnely they ryde. 

Noght trowe I the triumphe of lulius, 400 
Of which that Lucan maketh swich a 

host, 
Was royaller, ne more curious 
Than was thassemblee of this blisful host. 
But this scorpioun, this vvikked gost. 
The sowdanesse, for al hir flateringe, 405 
Caste under this ful mortally to stinge. 

The sowdan comth him-self sone after 

this 
So royally, that wonder is to telle, 



66 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[409-478. 



And welcometh hir with alle loye and 

blis. 
And thus in merthe and loye I lete hem 

dwelle. 410 

The fruyt of this matere is that I telle. 
Whan tyme cam, men thoughte it for the 

beste 
That revel stinte, and men goon to hir 

reste. 

The tyme cam, this olde sowdanesse 
Ordeyned hath this feste of which I 

tolde, 415 

And to the feste Cristen folk hem dresse 
In general, ye ! bothe yonge and olde. 
Here may men feste and royaltee biholde. 
And deyntees mo than 1 can yow devyse. 
But al to dere they boughte it er they 

ryse. 420 

O sodeyn wo ! that ever art successour 
To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitter- 

nesse; 
Thende of the loye of our worldly labour; 
Wo occupieth the fyn of our gladnesse. 
Herke this conseil for thy sikernesse, 425 
Up-on thy glade day have in thy minde 
The unwar wo or harm that comth 

bihinde. 

For shortly for to tellen at o word, 
The sowdan and the Cristen everichone 
Ben al to-hewe and stiked at the bord, 
But it were only dame Custance al- 

lone. 431 

This olde sowdanesse, cursed crone, 
Hath with hir frendes doon this cursed 

dede, 
For she hir-self wolde al the contree lede. 

Ne ther was Surrien noon that was con- 
verted 435 

That of the conseil of the sowdan woot. 

That he nas al to-hewe er he asterted. 

And Custance han they take anon, foot- 
hoot, 

And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot, 

They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne 
sayle 440 

Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle. 

A certein tresor that she thider ladde, 
And, sooth to sayn, vitaille gret plentee 



They han hir yeven, and clothes eek she 

hadde. 
And forth she sayleth in the salte see. 445 
O my Custance, ful of benignitee, 
O emperoures yonge doghter dere, 
He that is lord of fortune be thy stere ! 

She blesseth hir, and with ful pitous voys 
Un-to the croys of Crist thus seyde 

she, 450 

' O clere, o welful auter, holy croys. 
Reed of the lambes blood full of pitee, 
That wesh the world fro the olde iniqui- 

tee. 
Me fro the feend, and fro his clawes kepe. 
That day that I shal drenchen in the 

depe. 455 

Victorious tree, proteccioun of trewe, 
That only worthy were for to bere 
The king of heven with his woundes newe, 
The whyte lamb, that hurt was with the 

spere, 
Flemer of feendes out of him and here 460 
On which thy limes feithfuUy extenden. 
Me keep, and yif me might my lyf 

tamenden.' 

Yeres and dayes fleet this creature 
Thurghout the see of Grece un-to the 

strayte 
Of Marrok, as it was hir aventure; 465 
On many a sory meel now may she bayte; 
After her deeth ful often may she wayte, . 
Er that the wilde wawes wole hir dryve 
Un-to the place, ther she shal arryve. 

Men mighten asken why she was not I 

slayn? 470 ■ 

Eek at the feste who mighte hir body 

save? 
And I answere to that demaunde agayn. 
Who saved Daniel in the horrible cave, 
Ther every wight save he, maister and 

knave, 
Was with the leoun frete er he as- - 

terte? 475 5 

No wight but god, that he bar in his ^ 

herte. 

God liste to shewe his wonderful miraclo 
In hir, for we sholde seen his mighty 
werkes; 



479-541.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



67 



! Crist, which that is to every harm triacle, 
By certein menes ofte, as knowen 
clerkes, 480 

Doth thing for certein ende that ful 
derk is 
I To mannes wit, that for our ignorance 
Ne conne not knowe his prudent pur- 
I veyance. 

l Now, sith she was not at the feste y-slawe, 

i Who kepte hir fro the drenching in the 

see? 485 

Who kepte lonas in the fisshes mawe 

Til he was spouted up at Ninivee? 

1 Wei may men knowe it was no wight but 

he 
That kepte peple Ebraik fro hir drench - 

inge, 
With drye feet thurgh-out the see pass- 
ings 490 

Who bad the foure spirits of tempest, 
, That power han tanoyen land and see, 
*Bothe north and south, and also west 

and est, 
Anoyeth neither see, ne land, ne tree? ' 
Sothly, the comaundour of that was he. 
That fro the tempest ay this womman 
, kepte 496 

As wel whan [that] she wook as whan 
she slepte. 

Wher mighte this womman mete and 

drinke have? 
Three yeer and more how lasteth hir 

vitaille? 
Who fedde the Egipcien Marie in the 

cave, 500 

Or in desert? no wight but Crist, sans 

faille. 
Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mer- 

vaille 
With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede. 
God sente his foison at hir grete nede. 

She dryveth forth in-to our occean 505 
Thurgh-out our wilde see, til, atte laste. 
Under an hold that nempnen I ne can, 
Fer in Northumberlond the wawe hir 

caste, 
And in the sond hir ship stiked so faste, 
That thennes wolde it noght of al a 

tyde, 510 



The wille of Crist was that she shulde 
abyde. 

The constable of the castel doun is fare 
To seen this wrak, and al the ship he 

soghte. 
And fond this wery womman ful of care ; 
He fond also the tresor that she broghte. 
In hir langage mercy she bisoghte 516 
The lyf out of hir body for to twinne, 
Hir to delivere of wo that she was inne. 

A maner Latin corrupt was hir speche. 
But algates ther-by was she understonde ; 
The constable, whan him list no lenger 

seche, 521 

This woful womman broghte he to the 

londe; 
She kneleth doun, and thanketh goddes 

sonde. 
But what she was, she wolde no man 

seye. 
For foul ne fair, thogh that she shulde 

deye. 525 

She seyde, she was so mased in the see 
That she forgat hir minde, by hir trouthe; 
The constable hath of hir so greet pitee, 
And eek his wyf, that they wepen for 

routhe, 
She was so diligent, with-outen slouthe, 
To serve and plesen everich in that 

place, 531 

That alle hir loven that loken on hir 

face. 

This constable and dame Hermengild his 
wyf 

Were payens, and that contree every- 
where; 

But Hermengild lovede hir right as hir 

lyf, . 535 

And Custance hatia so longe soiourned 

there, 
In orisons, with many a bitter tere, 
Til lesu hath converted thurgh his 

grace 
Dame Hermengild, constablesse of that 

place. 

In al that lond no Cristen durste route, 
Alle Cristen folk ben fled fro that con- 
tree 541 



68 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[542-6oi 



Thurgh payens, that conquereden al 

aboute 
The plages of the North, by land and 

see; 
To walis fled the Cristianitee 544 

Of olde Britons, dwellinge in this yle; 
Ther was her refut for the mene whyle. 

But yet nere Cristen Britons so exyled 
That ther nere somme that in hir pri- 

vetee 
Honoured Crist, and hethen folk bi- 

gyled; 
And ny the castel swiche ther dwelten 

three. 550 

That oon of hem was blind, and mighte 

nat see 
But it were with thilke yen of his minde, 
With whiche men seen, after that they 

ben blinde. 

Bright was the sonne as in that someres 

day, 
For which the constable and his wyf 

also 555 

And Custance han y-take the righte way 
Toward the see, a furlong way or two. 
To pleyen and to romen to and fro; 
And in hir walk this blinde man they 

mette 
Croked and old, with yen faste y-shette. 

* In name of Crist,' cryde this blinde 

Britoun, 561 

* Dame Hermengild, yif me my sighte 

agayn.' 
This lady wex affrayed of the soun. 
Lest that hir housbond, shortly for to 

sayn, 
Wolde hir for lesu Cristas love han 

slayn, 565 

Til Custance made hir bold, and bad hir 

werche 
The wil of Crist, as doghter of his 

chirche. 

The constable wex abasshed of that sight, 
And seyde, * what amounteth al this 

fare ? ' 
Custance answerde, * sire, it is Cristes 

might, 570 

That helpt-th folk out of the feendes 

snare.' 



And so ferforth she gan our lay declare 
That she the constable, er that it werje 

eve. 
Converted, and on Crist made him bi 

leve. 

This constable was no- thing lord of thi 

place 57, 

Of which I speke, ther he Custanc 

fond. 
But kepte it strongly, many wintres space 
Under Alia, king of al Northumberlond 
That was ful wys, and worthy of his bond 
Agayn the Scottes, as men may wel 
here, 580 

But turne I wol agayn to my matere 






Sathan, that ever us waiteth to bigyle, 
Saugh of Custance al hir perfeccioun. 
And caste anon how he mighte quyte hi 

whyle, 
And made a yong knight, that dwelte in 

that toun, 585 

Love hir so bote, of foul affeccioun, 
That verraily him thoughte he shulde 

spille 
But he of hir mighte ones have his wille. 



He woweth hir, but it availleth noght, 
She wolde do no sinne, by no weye; 590 
And, for despyt, he compassed in his 

thoght 
To maken hir on shamful deth to deye. 
He wayteth whan the constable was 

aweye, 
And prively, up-on a night, he crepte 
In Hermengildes chambre whyl she 

slepte. 595 

Wery, for-waked in her orisouns, 
Slepeth Custance, and Hermengild also. 
This knight, thurgh Sathanas tempta- 

ciouns, 
Al softely is to the bed y-go, 
And kitte the throte of Hermengild 

a-two, 600 

And leyde the blody knyf by dame 

Custance, 
And wente his wey, ther god yeve him 

meschance ! 

Sone after comth this constable hoom 
agayn, 



604-672.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



69 



And eek Alia, that king was of that 

lond, 
And saugh his wyf despitously y-slain, 
For which ful ofte he weep and wrong 

his hond, 606 

And in the bed the blody knyf he fond 
By dame Custance ; alias ! what mighte 

she seye? 
For verray wo hir wit was al aweye. 

To king Alia was told al this meschance, 
And eek the tyme, and where, and in 

what vvyse 611 

That in a ship was founden dame 

Custance, 
As heer-biforn that ye han herd devyse. 
The kinges herte of pitee gan agryse, 
Whan he saugh so benigne a creature 
Falle in disese and in misaventure. 616 

For as the lomb toward his deeth is 

broght. 
So stant this innocent bifore the king; 
This false knight that hath this tresoun 

wroght 
Berth hir on hond that she hath doon 

this thing. 620 

But nathelees, ther was greet moorning 
Among the peple, and seyn, ' they can 

not gesse 
That she hath doon so greet a wikked- 

nesse. 

For they han seyn hir ever so vertuous, 
And loving Hermengild right as her lyf.' 
Of this bar witnesse everich in that 

hous 626 

Save he that Hermengild slow with his 

knyf. 
This gentil king hath caught a gret mo- 

Of this witnesse, and thoghte he wolde 

enquere 
Depper in this, a trouthe for to lere. 630 

Alias ! Custance ! thou hast no cham- 

pioun, 
Ne fighte canstow nought, so weyla- 

wey ! 
But he, that starf for our redemp- 

cioun 
And bond Sathan (and yit lyth ther he 

lay) 



So be thy stronge champioun this day ! 
For, but-if Crist open miracle kythe, 636 
Withouten gilt thou shalt be slayn as 
svvythe. 

She sette her doun on knees, and thus 
she sayde, »_L. 

' Immortal god, that savedest Susanne 

Fro false blame, and thou, merciful 
mayde, 640 

Mary I mene, doghter to Seint Anne, 

Bifore whos child aungeles singe Osanne, 

If I be giltlees of this felonye. 

My socour be, for elles I shal dye ! ' ^ 

Have ye nat seyn som tyme a pale 

face, 645 

Among a prees, of him that hath be lad 

Toward his deeth, wher-as him gat no 

grace, 
And svvich a colour in his face hath had, 
Men mighte knowe his face, that was 

bistad, 
Amonges alle the faces in that route : 650 
So stant Custance, and loketh hir aboute. 

O queues, livinge in prosperitee, 
Duchesses, and ye ladies everichone, 
Haveth som routhe on hir adversitee; 
An emperoures doghter stant allone; 655 
She hath no wight to whom to make hir 

mone. 
O blood royal, that stondest in this drede, 
Fer ben thy freendes at thy grete nede ! 

This Alia king hath svvich compassioun, 
As gentil herte is fulfild of pitee, 660 
That from his yen ran the water doun. 
' Now hastily do fecche a book,' quod he, 
' And if this knight wol sweren how that 

she 
This womman slow, yet wole we us avyse 
Whom that we wole that shal ben our 

lustyse.' 665 

A Briton book, writen with Evang)'les, 
Was fet, and on this book he swoor 

anoon 
She gilty was, and in the mene whyles 
A hand him smoot upon the nekke-boon, 
That doun he fil atones as a stoon, 670 
And bothe his yen broste out of his face 
In sight of every body in that place. 



70 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[673-739- 



A vois was herd in general audience, 
And seyde, 'thou hast desclaundred 

giltelees 
The doghter of holy chirche in hey 

presence; 675 

Thus hastou doon, and yet holde I my 

pees.' 
Of this mervaille agast was al the prees; 
As mased folk they stoden everichone, 
For drede of wreche, save Custance 

allone. 

Greet was the drede and eek the repent- 
ance 680 

Of hem that hadden wrong suspeccioun 

Upon this sely innocent Custance; 

And, for this miracle, in conclusioun, 

And by Custances mediacioun, 

The king, and many another in that 
place, 685 

Converted was, thanked be Cristes grace ! 

This false knight was slayn for his un- 

trouthe 
By lugement of Alia hastifly; 
And yet Custance hadde of his deeth 

gret routhe. 
And after this lesus, of his mercy, 690 
Made Alia wedden ful solempnely 
This holy mayden, that is so bright and 

shene, 
And thus hath Crist y-maad Custance a 

quene. 

But who was woful, if I shal nat lye. 
Of this wedding „but Donegild, and na 

mo, 695 

The kinges moder, ful of tirannye? 
Hir thoughte hir cursed herte brast 

a-two ; 
She wolde noght hir sone had do so; 
Hir thoughte a despit, that he sholde 

take 
So strange a creature un-to his make. 700 

Me Hst nat of the chaf nor of the stree 
Maken so long a tale, as of the corn. 
What sholde I tellen of the royaltee 
At mariage, or which cours gooth biforn, 
Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn? 
The fruit of every tale is for to seye ; 706 
They ete, and drinke, and daunce, and 
singe, and pleye. 



They goon to bedde, as it was skile and 

right; 
For, thogh that wyves been ful holy 

thinges. 
They moste take in pacience at night 710 
Swich maner necessaries as been ples- 

inges 
To folk that han y-wedded hem with 

ringes, 
And leye a lyte hir holinesse asyde 
As for the tyme; it may no bet bityde. 

On hir he gat a knave-child anoon, 715 
And to a bishop and his constable eke 
He took his wyf to kepe, whan he is 

goon 
To Scotland-ward, his fo-men for to seke; 
Now faire Custance, that is so humble 

and meke. 
So longe is goon with childe, til that 

stille 720 

She halt hir chambre, abyding Cristes 

wille. 

The tyme is come, a knave-child she ber; 
Mauricius at the font-stoon they him 

calle; 
This Constable dooth forth come a 

messager, 
And wroot un-to his king, that cleped 

was AUe, 725 

How that this blisful tyding is bifalle, 
And othere tydings speedful for to seye; 
He takth the lettre, and forth he gooth 

his weye. 

This messager, to doon his avantage, 729 
Un-to the inges moder rydeth swythe. 
And salueth hir ful faire in his langage, 
* Madame,' quod he, ' ye may be glad and 

blythe. 
And thanke god an hundred thousand 

sythe; 
My lady quene hath child, with-outen 

doute. 
To loye and blisse of al this regne 

aboute. 735 

Lo, heer the lettres seled of this thing. 
That I mot here with al the haste I may; 
If ye wol aught un-to your sone the 

king, 
I am your servant, bothe night and day.' 



740-81 2.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



71 



Donegild answerde, ' as now at this tyme, 
nay ; 740 

But heer al night I wol thou take thy 
reste, 

Tomorwe wol I seye thee what me leste.' 

This messager drank sadly ale and wyn, 
And stolen were his lettres prively 
Out of his box, whyl he sleep as a swyn ; 
And countrefeted was ful subtilly 746 
Another lettre, wroght ful sinfully, 
Un-to the king direct of this matere 
Fro his constable, as ye shul after here. 

The lettre spak, ' the queen delivered 
was 750 

Of so horrible a feendly creature, 
That in the castel noon so hardy was 
That any whyle dorste ther endure. 
The moder was an elf, by aventure 
Y-come, by charmes or by sorcerye, 755 
And every wight hateth hir companye.' 

Wo was this king whan he this lettre 
had seyn, 

But to no wighte he tolde his sorwes 
sore, 

But of his owene honde he wroot ageyn, 

' Welcome the sonde of Crist for ever- 
more 760 

To me, that am now lerned in his lore; 

Lord, welcome be thy lust and thy ples- 
aunce, 

My lust I putte al in thyn ordinaunce ! 

Kepeth this child, al be it foul or fair. 
And eek my wyf, un-to myn hoom- 

cominge; - 765 

Crist, whan him list, may s^nde me an 

heir 
More agreable than this to my lykinge.' 
This lettre he seleth, prively wepinge. 
Which to the messager was take sone, 
And forth he gooth; ther is na more to 

done. 770 

O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse, 
Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay. 
And thou biwreyest alle secreenesse. 
Thy mind is lorn, thou langlest as a lay, 
Thy face is turned in a newe array ! 775 
Ther dronkenesse regneth in any route, 
There is no cunscil hid, vvith-outen doute. 



O Donegild, I ne have noon English 

digne 
Un-to thy malice and thy tirannye ! 
And therfor to the feend I thee resigne, 



Let him endyten of thy traitory 



781 



Fy, mannish, fy ! o nay, by god, I lye, 
Fy, feendly spirit, fur I dar wel telle. 
Though thou heer walke, thy spirit is in 
helle ! 

This messager comth fro the king agayn, 
And at the kinges modres court he 

hghte, 786 

And she was of this messager ful fayn, 
And plesed him in al that ever she 

mighte. 
Lie drank, and wel his girdel underpighte. 
He slepeth, and he snoreth in his gyse 790 
Al night, un-til the sonne gan aryse. 

Eft were his lettres stolen everichon 
And countrefeted lettres in this wyse; 
'The king comandeth his constable 

anon, 
Up peyne of hanging, and on heigh 

luyse, 795 

That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse 
Custance in-with his regne for tabyde 
Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde; 

But in the same ship as he hir fond, 

Hir and hir yonge sone, and al hir 
gere, 800 

He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the 
lond. 

And charge hir that she never eft come 
there.' 

O my Custance, wel may thy goost have 
fere 

And sleping in thy dreem been in pen- 
ance, 

When Donegild caste al this ordi- 
nance ! 805 

This messager on morwe, whan he wook, 
Un-to the castel halt the nexte wey, 
And to the constable he the lettre took; 
And whan that he this pitous lettre sey, 
Ful ofte he seyde ' alias ! ' and ' weyla- 

wey ! ' 810 

* Lord Crist,' quod he, ' how may this 

world endure? 
So ful of sinne is many a creature ! 



W 



72 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[813-875. 



O mighty god, if that it be thy wille, 
Sith thou art rightful luge, how may it 

be 
That thou wolt sulTren innocents to 

spille, 815 

And wikked folk regne in prosperitee? 
O good Custance, alias ! so wo is me 
That I mot be thy tormentour, or deye 
On shames deeth; ther is noon other 

weye ! ' 

Wepen bothe yonge and olde in al that 

place, 820 

Whan that the king this cursed lettre 

sente, 
And Custance, with a deedly pale face. 
The ferthe day toward hir ship she 

wente. 
But natheles she taketh in good entente 
The wille of Crist, and, kneling on the 

stronde, 825 

She seyde, ' lord ! ay wel-com be thy 

sonde ! 

He that me kepte fro the false blame 
Whyl I was on the londe amonges yow, 
He can me kepe from harme and eek fro 

shame 
In sake see, al-thogh I se nat how. 830 
As strong as ever he was, he is yet now. 
In him triste I, and in his moder dere. 
That is to me my seyl and eek my stere.' 

Hir litel child lay weping in hir arm. 
And kneling, pitously to him she 
seyde, 835 

* Pees, litel sone, I wol do thee non 

harm.' 
With that hir kerchef of hir heed she 

breyde. 
And over his litel yen she it leyde; 
And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste. 
And in-to heven hir yen up she caste. 840 

* Moder,' quod she, * and mayde bright, 

Marye, 
Sooth is that thurgh wommannes egge- 

ment 
Mankind was lorn and damned ay to dye, 
For which thy child was on a croys y-rent; 
Thy blisful yen sawe al his torment; 845 
Than is ther no comparisoun bitwene 
Thy wo and any wo man may sustene. 



Thou sawe thy child y-slayn bifor thyn 
yen, 

And yet now liveth my litel child, par- 
fay! 

Now, lady bright, to whom alle woful 
cryen, 850 

Thou glorie of wommanhede, thou faire 
may. 

Thou haven of refut, brighte sterre of 
day, 

Rewe on my child, that of thy gentillesse 

Rewest on every rewful in distresse ! 

O litel child, alias ! what is thy gilt, 855 

That never wroughtest sinne as yet, par- 
dee, 

Why wil thyn harde fader han thee spilt? 

O mercy, dere Constable ! ' quod she; 

' As lat my litel child dwelle heer with 
thee; 

And if thou darst not saven him, for 
blame, 860 

So kis him ones in his fadres name ! ' 

Ther-with she loketh bakward to the 

londe, 
And seyde, ' far-wel, housbond routhe- 

lees ! ' 
And up she rist, and walketh doun the 

stronde 
Toward the ship; hir folweth al the 

prees, 865 

And ever she preyeth hir child to holde 

his pees; 
And taketh hir leve, and with an holy 

entente 
She blesseth hir; and in-to ship she 

wente. 

Vitailled was the ship, it is no drede, 
Habundantly for hir, ful longe space, 870 
And other necessaries that sholde nede 
She hadde y-nogh, heried be goddes 

grace ! 
For wind and weder almighty god pur- 

chace. 
And bringe hir hoom ! I can no bettre 

seye; 
But in the see she dryveth forth hir 

weye. 875 

Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pan 
tercia. 



876-941.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



73 



Alia the king comth hoom, sone after 

this, 
Unto his castel of the which I tolde, 877 
And axeth wher his wyf and his child is. 
The constable gan aboute his herte colde, 
And pleynly al the maner he him tolde 
As ye han herd, I can telle it no bettre, 
And sheweth the king his seel and [eek] 

his lettre, 

And seyde, * lord, as ye comaunded me 
Up peyne of deeth, so have I doon, cer- 

tein.' 
This messager tormented was til he 885 
Moste biknowe and tellen, plat and plein. 
Fro night to night, in what place he had 

leyn. 
And thus, by wit and subtil enqueringe, 
Ymagined was by whom this harm gan 

springe. 

The hand was knowe that the lettre 
wroot, 890 

And al the venim of this cursed dede, 

But in what wyse, certeinly I noot. 

Theffect is this, that Alia, out of drede, 

His moder slow, that men may pleinly 
rede. 

For that she traitour was to hir li- 
I geaunce, 895 

Thus endeth olde Donegild with mes- 
chaunce. 

The sorwe that this Alia, night and day, 
Maketh for his wyf and for his child also, 
Ther is no tonge that it telle may. 
But now wol I un-to Custance go, 900 
That fleteth in the see, in peyne and wo, 
Fyve yeer and more, as lyked Cristes 

sonde, 
Er that hir ship approched un-to londe. 

Under an hethen castel, atte laste, 

Of which the name in my text noght I 

finde, 905 

Custance and eek hir child the see up- 

caste. 
Almighty god, that saveth al mankinde. 
Have on Custance and on hir child som 

minde. 
That fallen is in hethen land eft-sone. 
In point to spille, as I shal telle yow 

sone. 910 



Doun from the castel comth ther many a 

wight 
To gauren on this ship and on Custance. 
But shortly, from the castel, on a night, 
The lordes sty ward — god yeve him mes- 

chaunce ! — 
A theef, that had reneyed our cre- 

aunce, 915 

Com in-to ship allone, and seyde he 

sholde 
Hir lemman be, wher-so she wolde or 

nolde. 

Wo was this wrecched womman tho 
bigon, 

Hir child cryde, and she cryde pitously; 

But blisful Marie heelp hir right 
anon; 920 

For with hir strugling wel and mightily 

The theef fil over bord al sodeinly. 

And in the see he dreynte for ven- 
geance; 

And thus hath Crist unwemmed kept 
Custance. 

O foule lust of luxurie ! lo, thyn 

ende ! Auctor. 

Nat only that thou feyntest mannes 

minde, 926 

But verraily thou wolt his body shende; 
Thende of thy werk or of thy lustes 

blinde 
Is compleyning, how many-oon may men 

finde 
That noght for werk som-tyme, but for 

thentente 930 

To doon this sinne, ben outher sleyn or 

shente ! 

How may this wayke womman han this 

strengthe 
Hir to defende agayn this renegat? 
O Golias, unmesurable of lengthe. 
How mighte David make thee so mat. 
So yong and of armure so desolat? 936 
How dorste he loke up-on thy dredful 

face? 
Wel may men seen, it nas but goddes 

grace ! 

Who yaf ludith corage or hardinesse 
To sleen him, Olofernus, in his tente, 940 
And to deliveren out of wrecchednesse 



74 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[942-1011 



The peple of god? I seye, for this 

entente, 
That, right as god spirit of vigour sente 
To hem, and saved hem out of mes- 

chance. 
So sente he might and vigour to 

Custance. 945 

Forth goth hir ship thurgh-out the 

narwe mouth 
Of lubaltar and Septe, dryving ay, ' ' 
Som-tyme West, som-tyme North and 

South, 
And som-tyme Est, ful many a wery day, 
Til Cristes moder (blessed be she 

ay !) 950 

Hath shapen, thurgh hir endelees good- 

nesse. 
To make an ende of al hir hevinesse. 

Now lat us stinte of Custance but a 

throwe, 
And speke we of the Romain Emperour, 
That out of Surrie hath by lettres 
knowe 955 

The slaughtre of Cristen folk, and dis- 
honour 
Don to his doghter by a fals traitour, 
I mene the cursed wikked sowdanesse. 
That at the feste leet sleen both more 
and lesse. 

For which this emperour hath sent 

anoon 960 

His senatour, with royal ordinance. 
And othere lordes, god wot, '^any oon. 
On Surriens to taken heigh vengeance. 
They brennen, sleen, and bringe hem to 

meschance 
Ful many a day; but shortly, this is 

thende, 965 

Homward to Rome they shapen hem to 

wende. 

This senatour repaireth with victorie 

To Rome-ward, sayling ful royally, 

A.nd mette the ship dryving, as seith the 

storie. 
In which Custance sit ful pitously. 970 
No-thing ne knew he what she was, ne 

why 
She was in swich array; ne she nil seye 
Of hir estaat, althogh she sholde deye. 



He bringeth hir to Rome, and to his 

wyf 
He yaf hir, and hir yonge sone also; 975 
And with the senatour she ladde her lyf. 
Thus can our lady bringen out of wo 
Woful Custance, and many another mo. 
And longe tyme dwelled she in that 

place. 
In holy werkes ever, as was hir grace. 980 

The* serialoures wyf hir aunte was. 

But foV al that she knew hir never the 

more; 
I wol no lenger tarien in this cas, 
But to king Alia, which I spak of yore. 
That for his wyf wepeth and syketh 

sore, 985 

I wol retourne, and lete I wol Custance 
Under the senatoures governance. 

King Alia, which that hadde his moder 

slayn. 
Upon a day fil in swich repentance. 
That, if I shortly tellen shal and plain, 
To Rome he comth, to receyven his 

penance; 991 

And putte him in the popes ordinance 
In heigh and low, and lesu Crist bisoghte 
Foryeve his wikked werkes that he 

wroghte. 

The fame anon thurgh Rome toun is 
born, 995 

How Alia king shal come in pilgrimage, 
By herbergeours that wenten him biforn; 
For which the senatour, as was usage, 
Rood him ageyn, and many of his linage, 
As wel to shewen his heighe magnifi- 
cence 1000 
As to don any king a reverence. 

Greet chere dooth this noble senatour 
To king Alia, and he to him also; 
Everich of hem doth other greet honour; 
And so bifel that, in a day or two, 1005 
This senatour is to king Alia go 
To feste, and shortly, if I shal nat lye, 
Custances sone wente in his companye. 

Som men wolde seyn, at requeste of 

Custance, 
This senatour hath lad this child to 

feste; loio 



IOI2-I078.] 



B. TALE OF THE MAN OF LAWE. 



75 



I may nat tellen every circumstance, 
Be as be may, ther was he at the leste. 
But soth is this, that, at his modres 

heste, 
Biforn Alia, during the metes space. 
The child stood, loking in the kinges 

face. 1 01 5 

This Alia king hath of this child greet 

wonder. 
And to the senatour he seyde anon, 
•Whos is that faire child that stondeth 

yonder? ' 
*I moot,' quod he, ' by god, and by seint 

lohn ! 
A moder he hath, but fader hath he non 
That I of woof — but shortly, in a 

stounde, 1021 

He tolde Alia how that this child was 

founde. 

j 'But god wot,' quod this senatour also, 
I * So vertuous a livere in my lyf, 
Ne saugh I never as she, ne herde of mo 
Of worldly wommen, mayden, nor of 

wyf; 1026 

I dar wel seyn hir hadde lever a knyf 
Thurgh-out her breste, than been a wom- 

man wikke; 
Ther is no man coude bringe hir to that 

prikke.' 

Now was this childe as lyk un-to 
Custance 1030 

As possible is a creature to be. 
This Alia hath the face in remembrance 
Of dame Custance, and ther-on mused he 
If that the childes moder were aught 

she 
That was his wyf, and prively he sighte. 
And spedde him fro the table that he 
mighte. 1036 

' Parfay,' thoghte he, ' fantome is in myn 

heed ! 
I oghte deme, of skilful lugement, 
That in the salte see my wyf is deed.' 
And afterward he made his argument — 
* What woot I, if that Crist have hider 

y-sent 1041 

My wyf by see, as wel as he hir sente 
To my contree fro thennes that she 

wente?' 



And, after noon, hoom with the senatour 
Goth Alia, for to seen this wonder 

chaunce. 1045 

This senatour dooth Alia greet honour. 
And hastifly he sente after Custaunce. 
But trusteth weel, hir liste nat to daunce 
Whan that she wiste wherefor was that 

sonde. 
Unnethe up-on hir feet she mighte 

stonde. 1050 

When Alia saugh his wyf, faire he hir 

grette. 
And weep, that it was routhe for to see. 
For at the firste look he on hir sette 
He knew wel verraily that it was she. 
And she for sorwe as domb stant as a 

tree; 1055 

So was hir herte shet in hir distresse 
Whan she remembred his unkindenesse. 

Twyes she swowned in his owne sighte; 
He weep, and him excuseth pitously : — 
* Now god,' quod he, ' and alle his halwes 

brighte 1060 

So wisly on my soule as have mercy, 
That of your harm as giltelees am I 
As is Maurice my sone so lyk your 

face; 
EUes the feend me fecche out of this 

place ! ' 

Long was the sobbing and the bitter 
peyne 1065 

Er that hir woful hertes mighte cesse; 

Greet was the pitee for to here hem 
pleync, 

Thurgh whiche pleintes gan hir wo en- 
cresse. 

I prey yow al my labour to relesse ; 

I may nat telle hir wo un-til tomorwe, 

I am so wery for to speke of sorwe. 1071 

But fynally, when that the sooth is wist 

That Alia giltelees was of hir wo, 

I trowe an hundred tymes been they 

kist. 
And swich a blisse is ther bitwix hem 

two 1075 

That, save the loye that lasteth evermo, 
Ther is non lyk, that any creature 
Hath seyn or shal, whyl that the world 

may dure. 



76 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1079- 1 148. 



Tho preyde she hir housbond mekely, 
In relief of hir longe pitous pyne, 1080 
That he wold preye hir fader specially 
That, of his magestee, he wolde enclyne 
To vouche-sauf som day with him to 

dyne; 
She preyde him eek, he sholde by no 

weye 
Un-to hir fader no word of hir seye. 1085 

Som men wold seyn, how that the child 

Maurice 
Doth this message un-to this emperour; 
But, as I gesse. Alia was nat so nyce 
To him, that was of so sovereyn honour 
Ashe that is ofCristen folk the flour, 1090 
Sente any child, but it is bet to deme 
He wente him-self, and so it may wel 

seme. 

This emperour hath grauyted gentilly 
To come to diner, as he him bisoghte; 
And wel rede I, he loked bisily 1095 

Up-on this child, and on his doghter 

thoghte 
Alia goth to his in, and, as him oghte, 
Arrayed for this feste in every wyse 
As ferforth as his conning may suffyse. 

The morwe cam, and Alia gan him 
dresse, 1 100 

And eek his wyf, this emperour to 
mete; 

And forth they ryde in loye and in glad- 
nesse. 

And whan she saugh hir fader in the 
strete. 

She lighte doun, and falleth him to 
fete. 

* Fader,' quod she, * your yonge child 
Custance 1105 

Is now ful clene out of your remem- 
brance. 

I am your doghter Custance,' quod she, 
' That whylom ye han sent un-to Surrye. 
It am I, fader, that in the salte see 
Was put allone and dampned for to 

dye. 1 1 10 

Now, gode fader, mercy I yow crye, 
Send me namore un-to non hethenesse. 
But thonketh my lord heer of his kinde- 

nesse.' 



Who can the pitous loye tellen al 
Bitwix hem three, sin they ben thus 

y-mette? 11 15 

But of my tale made an ende I shal; 
The day goth faste, I wol no lenger 

lette. 
This glade folk to diner they hem sette; 
In loye and blisse at mete I letg hem 

dwelle 
A thousand fold wel more than I can 

telle. 1 1 20 

This child Maurice was sithen emperour 
Maad by the pope, and lived cristenly. 
To Cristes chirche he dide greet honour; 
But I lete al his storie passen by, 
Of Custance is my tale specially. 1 125 
In olde Romayn gestes may men finde 
Maurices lyf; I bere it noght in minde. 

This king Alia, whan he his tyme sey, 
With his Custance, his holy wyf so 

swete, 
To Engelond been they come the righte 

wey, 1 1 30 

Wher-as they live in loye and in quiete. 
But litel whyl it lasteth, I yow hete, 
loye of this world,- for tyme wol nat 

abyde; 
Fro day to night it changeth as the 

tyde. 

Who lived ever in swich delyt o day 1135 
That him ne moeved outher conscience, 
Or ire, or talent, or som kin affray, 
Envye, or pryde, or passion, or offence? 
I ne seye but for this ende this sen- 
tence, 1 139 
That litel whyl in loye or in plesance 
Lasteth the blisse of Alia with Custance. 

For deeth, that taketh of heigh and low 

his rente. 
When passed was a yeer, even as I 

gesse. 
Out of this world this king Alia he 

hente, 
For whom Custance hath ful gret hevi- 

nesse. 114/ 

Now lat us preyen god his soule blesse ' 
And dame Custance, fynally to seye. 
Towards the toun of Rome gooth 

weye. 



I49-I200.] 



B. THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 



77 



To Rome is come this holy creature, 
And fyndeth ther hir frendes hole and 

sounde : 1 1 50 

Now is she scaped al hir aventure ; 
And whan that she hir fader hath y- 

founde, 
Doun on hir knees falleth she to 

grounde ; 
Weping for tendrenesse in herte blythe, 
She herieth god an hundred thousand 

sythe. 1 155 



In vertu and in holy almes-dede 

They liven alle, and never a-sonder 

wende; 
Til deeth departed hem, this lyf they lede. 
And fareth now weel, my tale is at an 

ende. 
Now lesu Crist, that of his might may 

sende 11 60 

loye after wo, governe us in his grace. 
And kepe us alle that ben in this place ! 

Amen. 



Here endeth the Tale of the Man of Lawe; and next folweth the Shipmannes Prolog, 



THE SHIPMAN'S PROLOGUE. 



Here biginneth the Shipmannes Prolog. 

Our hoste up-on his stiropes stood anon, 

And seyde, * good men, herkneth everich 
on; 

This was a thrifty tale for the nones ! 1 165 

Sir parish prest,' quod he, 'for goddes 
bones, 

Tel us a tale, as was thy forward yore. 

I see wel that ye lerned men in lore 

Can moche good, by goddes dignitee ! ' 
The Persone him answerde, ^ benedi- 
cite! 1 1 70 

What eyleth the man, so sinfully to 
swere ?' 
Our hoste answerde, ' O lankin, be ye 
there ? 

I smelle a loller in the wind,' quod he. 

* How ! good men,' quod our hoste, ' herk- 
neth me; 



175 



Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun, 

For we shal han a predicacioun; 

This loller heer wil prechen us som- 

what.' 
' Nay, by my fader soule ! that shal be 

nat,' 
Seyed the Shipman; 'heer he shal nat 

preche. 
He shal no gospel glosen heer ne 

teche. 1 1 80 

We leve alle in the grete god,' quod he, 
' He wolde sowen som difficultee, 
Or springen cokkel in our clene corn; 
And therfor, hoste, I warne thee biforn, 
My loly body shal a tale telle, 1185 

And I shal clinken yow so mery a belle, 
That I shal waken al this companye; 
But it shal nat ben of philosophye, 
'^e. physices, ne termes queinte of lawe; 
Ther is but litel Latin in my mawe.' 1190 



Here endeth the Shipman his Prolog, 



THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Shiptnannes Tale, 

A Marchant whylom dwelled at Seint 

Denys, 
That riche was, for which men helde him 

wys; 
A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee. 
And compaignable and revelous was 

she, 



Which is a thing that causeth more dis- 

pence 1195 

Than worth is al the chere and reverence 

That men hem doon at festes and at 

daunces; 
Swiche salutaciouns and contenaunces 
Passen as dooth a shadwe up-on the wal. 
But wo is him that payen moot for 
al; 1200 



7« 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1201-1274. 



The sely housbond, algate he mot paye; 
He moot us clothe, and he moot us 

arraye, 
Al for his owene worship richely, 
In which array wc daunce loHly. 
And if that he noght may, par-aven- 

ture, 1205 

Or ellcs, Hst no swich dispence endure, 
But thinkcth it is wasted and y-lost, 
Than moot another payen for our cost, 
Or lene us gohl, and that is perilous. 
This noble Marchant heeld a worthy 

hous, 1 2 10 

For which he haddc alday so greet re- 
pair 
For his largesse, and for his wyf was 

fair. 
That wonder is ; but herkneth to my 

tale. 
Amonges alle his gestes, grete and 

smale, 
Ther was a monk, a fair man and a 

bold, 1215 

I trowe of thritty M'inter he was old. 
That ever in oon was drawing to that 

place. 
This yonge monk, that was so fair of 

face, 
Aqueinted was so with the gode man, 
Sith that hir firste knoweliche bigan, 1 220 
That in his hous as famulier was he 
As it possible is any freend to be. 

And for as muchel as this gode man 
And eek this monk, of which that I 

bigan, 
Were bothc two y-born in o village, 1225 
The monk him claimeth as for cosinage ; 
And he again, he scith nat ones nay, 
But was as glad ther-of as fowel of day ; 
For to his herte it was a greet plesaunce. 
Thus been they knit with eterne alli- 

aunce, 1230 

And ech of hem gan other for tassure 
Of bretherhede, whyl that hir lyf may 

dure. 
Free was daun lohn, and namely of 

dispence. 
As in that hous ; and ful of diligence 
To doon plesaunce, and also greet cos- 

tage. 1235 

Tie noght forgat to yeve the leeste page 
In al that hous ; but, after hir degree, 
Uc yaf the lord, and sitthe al his meynee, 



When that he cam, som maner honest 

thing ; 
For which they were as glad of his com- 
ing 1 240 
As fowel is fayn, whan that the sonne 

up-ryseth. 
Na more of this as now, for it suffyseth. 
But so jjifcl, this marchant on a day 
Shoop him to make redy his array 
Toward the toun of Brugges for to 

fare, 1 245 

To byen ther a porcioun of ware ; 
For which he hath to I'aris sent anon 
A messager, and preyed hath daun lohn 
That he sholde come to Seint Denys to 

pleye 
With him and with his wyf a day or 

tweye, 1250 

Er he to Brugges wente, in alle wyse. 
This noble monk, of which I yow de- 

vyse, 
Hath of his abbot, as him list, licence. 
By-cause he was a man of heigh pru- 
dence. 
And eek an officer, out for to rydc, 1255 
To seen hir graunges and hir bernes 

wyde ; 
And un-to Seint Denys he comth anon. 
Who was so welcome as my lord daun 

lohn, 
Our dere cosin, ful of curteisye ? 
With him broghte he a lubbe of Mal- 

vesye, 1260 

And eek another, ful of fyn Vernage, 
And volatyl, as ay was his usage. 
And thus 1 lete hem ete and drinke and 

pleye. 
This marchant and this monk, a day or 

tweye. 
The thridde day, this'marchant up arys- 

eth, " 1265 

And on his nedes sadly him avyseth. 
And up in-to his countour-hous goth he 
To rekene with him-self, as wel may be, 
Of thilke yeer, how that it with him 

stood, 
And how that he despended hadde his 

good ; 1270 

And if that he encressed were or noon. 
His bokes and his bagges many oon 
He leith biforn him on his counting- 

bord ; 
Ful riche was his tresor and his hord. 



i 



I275-I346.] 



B. THE SHIPMANNES TALE. 



79 



For which ful faste his countour-dore he 

shette ; 1275 

And eek he nolde that no man sholde 

him lette 

Of his accountes, for the mene tyme; 
And thus he sit til it was passed pryme. 
Daun lohn was risen in the morwe 

also, 
And in the gardin walketh to and 

fro, 1 280 

And hath his thinges seyd ful curteisly. 

This gode wyf cam walking prively 
[n-to the gardin, ther he walketh softe, 
.\nd him saleweth, as she hath don ofte. 
^. mayde child cam in hir companye, 1285 
Which as hir list she may governe and 

gye, 

For yet under the yerde was the mayde, 
O dere cosin myn, daun lohn,' she 

sayde, 
What eyleth yow so rathe for to ryse ? ' 
|Nece,' quod he, 'it oghte y-nough 

suffyse 1290 

yve houres for to slepe up-on a night, 
3ut it were for an old appalled wight, 
\s been thise wedded men, that lye and 
I dare 

\.s in a forme sit a wery hare, 
[Vere al for-straught with houndes grete 

and smale. 1295 

5ut dere nece, why be ye so pale ? 
trowe certes that our gode man 
iath yow laboured sith the night bigan, 
That yow were nede to resten hastily ? ' 
Vnd with that word he lough ful merily, 
ind of his owene thought he wex al 

reed. 1301 

This faire wyf gan for to shake hir 

heed, 
Lnd seyde thus, ' ye, god wot al,' quod 
I she; 
Nay, cosin myn, it stant nat so with 

me. 
I or, by that god that yaf me soule and 

lyf, 1305 

n al the reme of France is ther no wyf 
^hat lasse lust hath to that sory pley. 
or I may singe "alias" and " weyla- 

wey, 
"hat I was born," but to no wight,' quod 

she, 
Dar I nat telle how that it stant with 

me. 1310 



Wherfore I thinke out of this land to 

wende, 
Or elles of my-self to make an ende. 
So ful am I of drede and eek of care.' 
This monk bigan up-on this wyf to 
stare, 
And seyde, 'alias, my nece, god for- 



bede 



[315 



That ye, for anysorwe or any drede, 
Fordo your-self; but telleth me your 

grief ; 
Paraventure I may, in your meschief, 
Conseille or helpe, and therfore telleth 

me 
Al your anoy, for it shal been secree; 1320 
For on my porthors here I make an 00th, 
That never in my lyf, for lief ne loolh, 
Ne shal I of no conseil yow biwreye.' 
'The same agayn to yow,' quod she, 

' I seye; 
By god and by this porthors, I yow 

swere, 1325 

Though men me wolde al in-to peces 

tere, 
Ne shal I never, for to goon to helle, 
Biwreye a word of thing that ye me telle, 
Nat for no cosinage ne alliance. 
But verraily, for love and affiance.' 1330 
Thus been they sworn, and heer-upon 

they kiste. 
And ech of hem tolde other what hem 

liste. 
' Cosin,' quod she, ' if that I hadde a 

space. 
As I have noon, and namely in this 

place, 1334 

Than wolde I telle a legende of my lyf, 
What I have suffred sith I was a wyf 
With myn housbonde, al be he your 

cosyn.' 
'Nay,' quod this monk, 'by god and 

seint Martyn, 
He is na more cosin un-to me 
Than is this leef that hangeth on the 

tree ! 1340 

I clepe him so, by Seint Denys of 

Fraunce, 
To have the more cause of aqueintaunce 
Of yow, which I have loved specially 
Aboven alle wommen sikerly; 
This swere I yow on my professioun. 
Telleth your grief, lest that he come 

adoun, 1346 



8o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1347-1417. 



And hasteth yow, and gooth your wey 

anon.' 
* My dere love,' quod she, * o my daun 

lohn, 
Ful lief were me this conseil for to hyde. 
But out it moot, I may namore abyde. 
Myn housbond is to me the worste man 
That ever was, sith that the world bigan. 
But sith I am a wyf, it sit nat me 
To tellen no wight of our privetee, 
Neither a bedde, ne in non other place; 
God shilde I sholde it tellen, for his 

grace! 1356 

A wyf ne shal nat seyn of hir housbonde 
But al honour, as I can understonde; 
Save un-to yow thus muchc I tellen shal; 
As help me god, he is noght worth at 

al 1360 

In no degree the value of a flye. 
But yet me greveth most his nigardye; 
And wel ye woot that wommcn naturelly 
Desyren thingcs sixe, as wel as I. 
They wolde that hir housbondes sholde 

be 1365 

Hardy, and wyse, and riche, and ther-to 

free, 
And buxom to his wyf, and fresh a-bedde. 
But, by that ilke lord that for us bledde. 
For his honour, my-self for to arraye, 
A Sonday next, I moste nedes paye 1370 
An hundred frankes, or elles am I lorn. 
Yet were me lever that I were unborn 
Than me were doon a sclaundre or 

vileinye; 
And if myn housbond eek it mighte 

espye, 
I nere but lost, and therfore I yow preye 
Lene me this somme, or elles moot I 

deye. 1376 

Daun lohn, I seye, lene me thise hun- 
dred frankes; 
Pardee, I wol nat faille yow my thank es, 
If that yow list to doon that I yow 

praye. 
For at a certein day I wol yow paye, 
And d(jon to yow what plesance and 

servyce 1 38 1 

That I may doon, right as yow list 

devyse. 
And but I do, god take on me ven- 
geance 
As foul as ever had Geniloun of 

France ! ' 



This gentil monk answerde in this s 

manere; ^3^5 3 

* Now, trewely, myn owene lady dere, 
I have,' quod he, 'on yow so greet a 1 

routhe, 
That I yow swere and plighte yow my 

trouthe. 
That whan your housbond is to Flaun- 

dres fare, 
I wol delivere yow out of this care; 1390 
For I wol bringe yow an hundred 

frankes.' 
And with that word he caughte hir by 

the flankes. 
And hir embraceth harde, and kiste hir 

ofte. 
' Goth now your wey,' quod he, * al stille 

and softe. 
And lat us dyne as sone as that ye may; 
r\)r by my chilindre it is pryme of day. 
Goth now, and beeth as trewe as 1 shal 

be.' 

* Now, elles god forbede, sire,' quod 

she, 
And forth she gooth, as lolif as a pye, 
And bad the cokes that they sholde hem 

hye, 1400 

So that men mighte dyne, and that anon. 
Up to hir housbonde is this wyf y-gon. 
And knokketh at his countour boldely. 

* Qui la ? ' quod he. ' Peter ! it am I,' 
Quod she, * what, sire, how longe wol ye 

faste? 1405 

How longe tyme wol ye rekene and 

caste 
Your sommes, and your bokes, and your 

thinges? 
The devel have part of alle swiche reken- 

inges ! 
Ye have y-nough, pardee, of goddes 

sonde; 
Come doun to-day, and lat your bagges 

stonde. 14IO 

Ne be ye nat ashamed that daun lohn 
Shal fasting al this day elenge goon? 
What ! lat us here a messe, and go we 

dyne.' 
' Wyf,' quod this man, * litel canstow 

devyne 
The curious bisinesse that we have. 141 5 
For of us chapmen, al-so god me save. 
And by that lord that cleped is Seint 

Yve. 



1418-1496.] 



B. THE SIIIPMANNES TALE. 



81 



I Scarsly amonges twelve ten shul thryve, 

■ Continuelly, lastinge un-to our age. 

I We may wel make chere and good 
visage, 1420 

I And dryve forth the world as it may be, 

; And kepen our estaat in privetee. 
Til we be deed, or elles that we pleye 
A pilgrimage, or goon out of the weye. 

, And therfor have I greet necessitee 1425 
Up-on this queinte world tavyse me; 

■ For evermore we mote stonde in drede 

, Of hap and fortune in our chapmanhede. 
5 To Flaundres wol I go to-morwe at 
1 day, 

And come agayn, as sone as ever I may. 
For which, my dere wyf, I thee biseke, 
As be to every wight buxom and meke. 
And for to kepe our good be curious. 
And honestly governe wel our hous. 
Thou hast y-nough, in every maner 

wyse, 1435 

That to a thrifty houshold may suffyse. 
Thee lakketh noon array ne no vitaille, 
Of silver in thy purs shaltow nat faille.' 
And with that word his countour-dore he 

shette, 
And doun he gooth, ne lenger wolde he 

lette, 1440 

But hastily a messe was ther seyd. 
And spedily the tables were y-leyd, 
And to thedmer faste they hem spedde; 
And richely this monk the chapman 

fedde. 
At-after diner daun lohn sobrely 1445 
This chapman took a-part, and prively 
He seyde him thus, 'cosyn, it standeth 

so. 
That wel I see to Brugges wol ye go. 
God and seint Austin spede yow and 

gyde ! 
I prey yow, cosin, wysly that ye r}'de; 
Governeth yow also of your diete 1451 
Atcmprely, and namely in this hete. 
Bitwix us two nedeth no strange fare; 
Fare-wel, cosyn; god shilde yow fro 

care. 
If any thing ther be by day or night, 
If it lye in my power and my might, 1456 
iThat ye me wol comande in any wyse, 
\It shal be doon, right as ye wol devyse. 
O thing, er that ye goon, if it may be, 
I wolde prey yow; for to lene me 1460 
An hundred frankes, for a wyke or tweye, 



For certein beestes that I moste beye. 
To store with a place that is oures. 
God help me so, I wolde it were youres ! 
I shal nat faille surely of my day, 1465 
Nat for a thousand frankes, a myle-way. 
But lat this thing be secree, I yow 

preye, 
For yet to-night thise beestes moot I 

beye; 
And fare-now wel, myn owene cosin 

dere, 
Graunt mercy of your cost and of your 

chere.' 1470 

This noble marchant gentilly anon 
Answerde, and seyde, ' o cosin myn, daun 

lohn, 
Now sikerly this is a smal requeste; 
My gold is youres, whan that it yow 

leste. 
And nat only my gold, but my chaf- 

fare; 1475 

Take what yow list, god shilde that ye 

spare. 
But o thing is, ye knowe it wel y-nogh, 
Of chapmen, that hir moneye is hit 

plogh. 
We may creaunce why] we have a name, 
But goldlees for to be, it is no game. 1480 
Pave it agayn whan it lyth in your ese; 
After my might ful fayn wolde I yow 

plese.' 
Thise hundred frankes he fette forth 

anon. 
And prively he took hem to daun lohn. 
No wight in al this world wiste of this 

lone, 1485 

Savinge this marchant and daun lohn 

allone. 
They drinke, and speke, and rome a 

whyle and pleye. 
Til that daun lohn rydeth to his abbeye. 
The morwe cam, and forth this mar- 
chant rydeth 
To Flaundres-ward; his prentis wel him 

gydeth, 1490 

Til he cam in-to Brugges merily. 
Now gooth this marchant faste and bisily 
Aboute his nede, and byeth and creaun- 

ceth. 
He neither pleyeth at the dees ne daun- 

ceth; 
But as a marchant, shortly for to telle, 1495 
He let his lyf, and there I lete him dwelle. 



82 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1497-1570- 



The Sonday next this Marchant was 

agon, 
To Seint Denys y-comen is daun lohn, 
With crovvne and herd all fresh and newe 

y-shave. 
In al the hous ther nas so litel a 

knave, 1500 

Ne no wight elles, that he nas ful fayn. 
For that my lord daun lohn was come 

agayn. 
And shortly to the point right for to gon, 
This faire wyf accorded with daun lohn, 
That for thise hundred frankes he sholde 

al night 1 505 

Have hir in his armes bolt-upright; 
And this acord parfourned was in dede. 
In mirthe al night a bisy lyf they lede 
Til it was day, that daun lohn wente his 

way, 
And bad the meynee * fare-wel, have good 

day!' 15 10 

For noon of hem, ne no wight in the 

toun. 

Hath of daun lohn right no suspecioun. 

And forth he rydeth hoom to his abbeye, 

Or where him list; namore of him I seye. 

This marchant, whan that ended was 

the faire, 1 5 15 

To Seint Denys he gan for to repaire, 
And with his wyf he maketh feste and 

chere. 
And telleth hir that chaffare is so dere, 
That nedes moste he make a chevisaunce. 
Forhewasboundein a reconissaunce 1520 
To paye twenty thousand sheeld anon. 
For which this marchant is to Paris gon. 
To borvve of certein frendes that he 

hadde 
A certein frankes; and somme with him 

he ladde. 
And whan that he was come in-to the 

toun, 1525 

For greet chertee and greet affeccioun, 
Un-to daun lohn he gooth him first, to 

pleye; 
Nat for to axe or borwe of him moneye, 
But for to wite and seen of his welfare, 
And for to tellen him of his chaffare, 1530 
As freendes doon whan they ben met 

y-fere. 
Daun lohn him maketh feste and mery 

chere ; 
And he him tolde agayn ful specially, 



How he hadde wel y-boght and gra- • 

ciously. 
Thanked be god, al hool his marchan- ■ 

dyse. 15355 

Save that he moste, in alle maner wyse, 
Maken a chevisaunce, as for his beste, 
And thanne he sholde been in loye and 1 

reste. 
Daun lohn answerde, ' certes, I am 1 

fayn 
That ye in helearcomen hoom agayn. 1540 1 
And if that I were riche, as have I blisse, , 
Of twenty thousand sheeld shold ye nat : 

misse, 
For ye so kindely this other day 
Lente me gold; and as I can and may, 
I thanke yow, by god and by seint 

lame! 1545 

But nathelees I took un-to our dame, 
Your wyf at hoom, the same gold ageyn 
Upon your bench ; she woot it wel, cer- 

teyn, 
By certein tokenes that I can hir telle. 
Now, by your leve, I may no lenger 

dwelle, 1550 

Our abbot wol out of this toun anon; 
And in his companye moot I gon. 
Grete wel our dame, myn owene nece 

swete, 
And fare-wel, dere cosin, til we mete ! ' 
This Marchant, which that was ful war 

and wys, 1555 

Creaunced hath, and payd eek in Parys, 
To certeyn Lumbardes, redy in hir hond. 
The somme of gold, and gat of hem his 

bond ; 
And hoom he gooth, mery as a papeiay. 
For wel he knew he stood in swich 

array, 1560 

That nedes moste he winne in that viage 
A thousand frankes above al his costage. 

His wyf ful redy mette him atte gate, 
As she was wont of old usage algate. 
And al that night in mirthe they 

bisette; 1565 

For he was riche and cleerly out of dette. 
Whan it was day, this marchant gan em- 
brace 
His wyf al newe, and kiste hir on hir 

face, 
And up he gooth and maketh it ful tough. 
* Namore,' quod she, * by god, ye have 

y-nough!' 157c 



I57I-I634.] 



B. THE PRIORESS'S PROLOGUE. 



83 



And wantounly agayn with him she 

pleyde; 
Til, atte laste, that this Marchant seyde, 

* By god,' quod he, ' I am a Htel wrooth 
With yow, my wyf, al-tliogh it be me 

looth. 
(And woot ye why? by god, as that I 

gesse, 1575 

That ye han maad a maner straungenesse 
i Bitwixen me and my cosyn daun lohn. 
Ye sholde han warned me, er I had gon, 
,That he yow hadde an hundred frankes 

payed 
By redy tokene; and heeld him yvel 

apayed, 1580 

For that T to him spak of chevisaunce, 
Me semed so, as by his contenaunce. 
But nathelees, by god our hevene king, 
I thoghte nat to axe of him no-thing. 
I prey thee, wyf, ne do namore so; 1585 
Tel me alwey, er that I fro thee go, 
If any dettour hath in niyn absence 
Y-payedthee; lest, thurgh thy necligence, 
I mighte him axe a thing that he hath 

payed.' 
This wyf was nat afered nor affrayed. 
But boldely she seyde, and that anon : 

* Marie, I defye the false monk, daun 

lohn! 
I kepe nat of hise tokenes never a deel; 
He took me certein gold, that woot I 

we el ! 
What ! yvel thedom on his monkes 

snoute! 1595 

For, god it woot, I wende, withouten 

doute, 

//ere endeth the 



That he had yeve it me bycause of yow, 
To doon ther-with myn honour and my 

prow, 
For cosinage, and eek for bele chere 
That he hath had ful ofte tymes here. 1 6(X) 
But sith I see I stonde in this disioint, 
I wol answere yow shortly, to the point. 
Ye han mo slakker dettours than am I ! 
For I wol paye yow wel and redily 
Fro day to day; and, if so be I faille, 1605 
I am your wyf; score it up-on my taille. 
And I shal paye, as sone as ever I may. 
For, by my trouthe, I have on myn array, 
And nat on wast, bistowed every deel. 
And for I have bistowed it so weel 1 6 10 
For your honour, for goddes sake, I seye. 
As be nat wrooth, but lat us laughe and 

pleye. 
Ye shal my loly body have to wedde; 
By god, 1 wol nat paye yow but a-bedde. 
Forgive it me, myn owene spouse dere; 
Turne hidervvard and maketh bettre 

chere.' 1616 

This marchant saugh ther was no 

remedye. 
And, for to chyde, it nere but greet folye, 
Sith that the thing may nat amended be, 
• Now, wyf,' he seyde, ' and I foryeve it 

thee ; 1620 

But, by thy lyf, ne be namore so large ; 
Keep bet our good, this yeve I thee in 

charge.' 
Thus endeth now my tale, and god us 

sende 
Taling y-nough un-to our lyves ende. 

Amen. 

Shipmannes Tale, 



THE PRIORESS'S PROLOGUE. 



Bihold the mery wordes of the //ost to 
'the Shipnian and to the lady Prioresse. 

*Wel seyd, by corpus domimts,'' quod 
our hoste, 1625 

'Now longe moot thou sayle by the 
coste. 

Sir gentil maister, gentil marineer ! 

God yeve this monk a thousand last quad 
yeer ! 



A ha ! felawes ! beth ware of swiche a 

lape ! 
The monk putte in the mannes hood an 

ape, 1630 

And in his wyves eek, by seint Austin ! 
Draweth no monkes more un-to your in. 
But now passe over, and lat us seke 

aboute. 
Who shal now telle first, of al this 

route, 



84 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1635-1695. 



Another tale; ' and with that word he 
sayde, 1635 

As curteisly as it had been a mayde, 
' My lady Prioresse, by your leve, 
So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve, 



I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde 
A tale next, if so were that ye wolde. 
Now wol ye vouche-sauf, my lady dere ?' 
* Gladly,' quod she, and seyde as ye 
shal liere. 



Explicit. 



THE PRIORESSES TALE. 



K 



The Prologe of the Frio7'esses Tale. 
Domine, dominus noster. 

O LORD our lord, thy name how mer- 

veillous 
Is in this large worlde y-sprad — quod 

she : — 
For noght only thy laude precious -1645 
Parfourned is by men of dignitee, ^ 
But by the mouth of children thy bountee 
Parfourned is, for on the brest soukinge 
Som tyme shewen they thyn heryinge. 

Wherfor in laude, as I best can or 
may, 1 650 

Of thee, and of the whyte lily flour 
Which that thee bar, and is a mayde alway, 
To telle a storie I wol do my labour ; 
Not that 1 may encresen hir honour ; 
For she hir-self is honour, and the rote 
Of bountee, next hir sone, and soules 
bote. — 1656 

O moder mayde ! O mayde moder free ! 
O bush unbrent, brenninge in Moyses 

sighte. 
That ravisedest doun fro the deitee, 
Thurgh thyn humblesse, the goost that in 

thahghte, 1660 

Of whos vertu, whan he thyn herte lighte, 
Conceived was the fadres sapience, 
Help me to telle it in thy reverence ! 

-■'' dy ! thy bountee, thy magnificence. 
Thy vertu, and thy grete humilitee 1665 
Ther may no tonge expresse in no sci- 
ence ; 
Forsom-tyme, lady, er men praye to thee, 
Thou goost biforn of thy benignitee, 



And getest us the light, thurgh thy 

preyere. 
To gyden us un-to thy sone so dere. 1670 

My conning is so wayk, O blisful quene, 
For to declare thy grete worthinesse, 
That I ne may the weighte nat sustene. 
But as a child of twelf monthe old, or 

lesse. 
That can unnethes any word expresse. 
Right so fare I, and therfor I yow preye, 
Gydeth my song that I shal of yow seye. 
Explicit. 

Here biginneth the Prioresses Tale. 

Ther was in Asie, in a greet citee, 
Amonges Cristen folk, a lewerye, 
Sustened by a lord of that contree 1 680 
For foule usure and lucre of vilanye. 
Hateful to Crist and to his companye; 
And thurgh the strete men mighte ryde 

or wende, 
For it was free, and open at either ende. 



A litel scole of Cristen folk th 
Doun at the ferther ende, in 



er stood 
which ther 
1686 
heep, y-comen of Cristen 



were 
Children an 

blood. 

That lerned in that scole yeer by yere 
Swich maner doctrine as men used there, 
This is to seyn, to singen and to rede. 
As smale children doon in hir childhede. 

Among thise children was awidwessone, 
A litel clergeon, seven yeer of age. 
That day by day to scole was his wone. 
And eek also, wher-as he saugh 
thimage 1695 



I696-I766.] 



B. THE PRIORESSES TALE. 



85 



Of Cristes moder, hadde he in usage, 
As him was taught, to knele adoun and 

seye 
His Ave Alarie, as he goth by the weye. 

Thus hath this widwe hir Htel sone 

y-taught 
Our blisful lady, Cristes moder dere, 1700 
To worshipe ay, and he forgat it naught. 
For sely child wol alday sone lere; 
But ay, whan I remembre on this matere, 
Seint Nicholas stant ever in my presence, 
For he so yong to Crist did rever- 
ence. 1705 

This litel child, his Htel book lerninge, 
As he sat in the scole at his prymer, 
He Alma redejuptoris herde singe, 
As children lerned hir antiphoner; 
And, as he dorste, he drough him ner and 
ner, 1710 

And herkned ay the wordes and the note, 
Till he the firste vers coude al by rote. 

Noght wiste he what this Latin was to 

seye, 
For he so yong and tendre was of age; 
But on a day his felaw gan he 

preye 1715 

Texpounden him this songinhis langage, 
Or telle him why this song was in 

usage ; 
This preyde he him to construe and 

declare 
Ful ofte tyme upon his knowes bare. 

His felaw, which that elder was than 

he, 1720 

Answerde him thus : ' this song, I have 

herd seye. 
Was maked of our blisful lady free, 
Hir to salue, and eek hir for to preye 
To been our help and socour whan we 

deye. 
I can no more expounde in this 

matere; 1725 

I lerne song, I can but smal grammere.' 

'And is this song maked in reverence 
Of Cristes moder ? ' seyde this innocent ; 
* Now certes, I wol do my diligence 
To conne it al, er Cristemasse is 
went; 1730 



Though that I for my prymer shal be 

shent, 
And shal be beten thryes in an houre, 
I wol it conne, our lady for to honoure,' 

His felaw taughte him homward prively. 
Fro day to day, til he coude it by 

rote, 1735 

And than he song it wel and boldely 
Fro word to word, acording with the 

note; 
Twyes a day it passed thurgh his throte. 
To scoleward and homward whan he 

wente; 
On Cristes moder set was his 

entente. 1740 

As I have seyd, thurgh-out the lewerye 
This litel child, as he cam to and fro, 
Ful merily than wolde he singe, and crye 
O Alma redemptoris ever-mo. 
The swetnes hath his herte perced 
so 1745 

Of Cristes moder, that, to hir to preye, 
Fie can nat stinte of singing by the weye. 

Our firste fo, the serpent Sathanas, 
That hath in lewes herte his waspes nest, 
Up swal, and seide, ' o Hebraik peple, 

alias! 1750 

Is this to yow a thing that is honest. 
That swich a boy shal walken as him lest 
In your despyt, and singe of swich 

sentence, 
Which is agayn your lawes reverence? ' 

Fro thennes forth the lewes han con- 
spyred 1755 

This innocent out of this world to chace; 

An homicyde ther-to han they hyred. 

That in an aley hadde a privee place; 

And as the child gan for-by for to pace. 

This cursed lew him hente and heeld 
him faste, 1760 

And kitte his throte, and in a pit him 
caste. 

V 

I seye that in a wardrobe they him threwe 
Wher-as these lewes purgen hir entraille. 
O cursed folk of Herodes al newe. 
What may your yvel entente yow 
availle? 1765 

Mordre wol out, certein, it wol nat faille, 



86 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1767-1835. 



And namely ther thonour of god shal 

sprede, 
The blood out cryeth on your cursed 

dede. 

*0 martir, souded to virginitee, 

Now maystou singen, folwing ever in 

oon 1770 

The whyte lamb celestial,' quod" she, 
*0f which the grete evangelist, seint 

lohn. 
In Pathmos wroot, which seith that they 

that goon 
Biforn this lamb, and singe a song al 

newe, 
That never, fleshly, wommen they ne 

knewe.' 1775 

This povre widwe awaiteth al that night 
After hir litel child, but he cam noght; 
For which,, as sone as it was dayes light, 
With face pale of drede and bisy thoght. 
She hath at scole and elles-wher him 
soght, 1780 

Til finally she gan so fer espye 
That he last seyn was in the lewerye. 

With modres pitee in hir brest enclosed, 

She gooth, as she were half out of hir 
minde, 

To every place wher she hath sup- 
posed 1785 

By lyklihede hir litel child to finde; 

And ever on Cristes moder meke and 
kinde 

She cryde, and atte laste thus she 
wroghte, 

Among the cursed lewes she him soghte. 

She frayneth and she preyeth pit- 

ously 1 790 

To every lew that dwelte in thilke place. 

To telle hir, if hir child wente oght 

for-by. 
They seyde, ' nay ' ; but lesu, of his grace, 
Yaf in hir thought, inwith a litel space, 
That in that place after hir sone she 
cryde, 1795 

Wher he was casten in a pit bisyde. 

O grete god, that parfournest thy laude 
By mouth of innocents, lo heer thy 
might ! 



This gemme of chastitee, this emeraude, 
And eek of martirdom the ruby 

bright, 1800) 

Ther he with throte y-corven lay upright, , 
He ' A//ua redetjiptoris ' gan to singe 
So loude, that al the place gan to ringe. 

The Cristen folk, that thurgh the strete 

wente, 
In coomen, for to wondre up-on this 

thing, 1805 

And hastily they for the provost sente; 
He cam anon with-outen tarying, 
And herieth Crist that is of heven king, 
And eek his moder, honour of mankinde. 
And after that, the lewes leet he 

binde. 1810 

This child with pitous lamentacioun 
Up-taken was, singing his song alway; 
And with honour of greet processioun 
They carien him un-to the nexte abbay. 
His moder swowning by the here 
lay; 1S15 

Unnethe might the peple that was there 
This newe Rachel bringe fro his here. 

With torment and with shamful deth 

echon 
This provost dooth thise lewes for to 

sterve 
That of this mordre wiste, and that 

anon; 1820 

He nolde no swich cursednesse observe. 
Yvel shal have, that yvel wol deserve. 
Therfor with wilde hors he dide hem 

drawe, 
And after that he heng hem by the lawe. 

Up-on his here ay lyth this innocent 
Biforn the chief auter, whyl masse laste, 
And after that, the abbot with his covent 
Han sped hem for toburien him ful faste; 
And whan they holy water on him caste. 
Yet spak this child, whan spreynd was 

holy water, 1 830 

And song — ' O Alma redeinptoris 

mater ! ' 

This abbot, which that was an holy man 
As monkes been, or elles oghten be. 
This yonge child to coniure he bigan, 
And seyde, 'o dere child, I halse thee, 



I836-I896.] 



B. PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS. 



87 



In vertu of the holy Trinitee, 1836 

Tell me what is thy cause for to singe, 
Sith that thy throte is cut, to myseminge?' 

* My throte is cut un-to my nekke-boon,' 
Seyde this child, *and, as by wey of 

kinde, 1840 

I sholde have deyed, ye, longe tyme agoon. 
But lesu Crist, as ye in bokes finde, 
Wil that hisglorie laste and be in minde, 
And, for the worship of his moder dere. 
Yet may I singe " O Alma " loude and 

clere. 1845 

This vvelle of mercy, Cristes moder swete, 
I lovede alwey, as after my conninge; 
And whan that I my lyf sholde forlete, 
To me she cam, and bad me for to singe 
This antem verraily in my deyinge, 1850 
As ye han herd, and, whan that I had 

songe, 
Me thoughte, she leyde a greyn up-on 

my tonge. 

Wherfor I singe, and singe I moot certeyn 
In honour of that blisful mayden free. 
Til fro my tonge of-laken is the greyn; 
And afterward thus seyde she to me, 1856 
*' My litel child, now wol I fecche thee 
Whan that the greyn is fro thy tonge 

y-take; 
Be nat agast, I wol thee nat forsake." ' 

Here is ended the 



This holy monk, this abbot, him mene 

I, 1 860 

His tonge out-caughte, and took a-wey 

the greyn, 
And he yaf up the goost ful softely. 
And whan this abbot had this wonder 

seyn. 
His sake teres trikled doun as reyn, 
And gruf he fil al plat up-on the 

grounde, 1865 

And stille he lay as he had been y-bounde. 

The covent eek lay on the pavement 
Weping, and herien Cristes moder dere, 
And after that they ryse, and forth ben 

went. 
And toke awey this martir fro his 

bere, 1870 

And in a tombe of marbul-stones clere 
Enclosen they his litel body swete; 
Ther he is now, god leve us for to 

mete. 

O yonge Hugh of Lincoln, slayn also 
With cursed lewes, as it is notable, 1875 
For it nis but a Ktel whyle ago; 
Preye eek for us, we sinful folk un- 
stable. 
That, of his mercy, god so merciable 
On us his grete mercy multiplye, 
For reverence of his moder Marye. 
Amen. i88o 

Prioresses Tale, 



PROLOGUE TO SIR THOPAS. 



Bihold the murye wordes of the Host to 
Chaucer. 

Whan seyd was al this miracle, every 

man 
As sobre was, that wonder was to se, 
Til that our hoste lapen tho bigan. 
And than at erst he loked up-on me, 
And seyde thus, * what man artow ? ' 

quod he; 1885 

* Thou lokest as thou woldest finde an 

hare, 
For ever up-on the ground I see thee 

stare. 



Approche neer, and loke up merily. 
Now war yow, sirs, and lat this man have 

place; 
He in the waast is shape as wel as I; 1 890 
This were a popet in an arm tenbrace 
For any womman, smal and fair of 

face. 
He semeth elvish by his contenaunce, 
For un-to no wight dooth he daliaunce. 

Sey now somwhat, sin other folk han 
sayd; 1895 

Tel us a tale of mirthe, and that 
anoon;' — 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1897-1970. 



* Hoste,' quod I, * ne beth nat y vel 

apayd, 
For other tale certes can I noon, 
But of a ryme I lerned longe agoon.' 



*Ye, that is good,' quod he; 'now shul 
we here 1900 

Som deyntee thing, me thinketh by his 
chere.' 



Expiicit. 



SIR THOPAS. 



I 



Here biginneth Chaucer^ s Tale of 
Thopas. 



LiSTETH, lordes, in good entent, 
And I wol telle verrayment 

Of mirthe and of solas; 
Al of a knyght was fair and gent 
In bataille and in tourneyment, 

His name was sir Thopas. 



1905 



[910 



Y-born he was in fer contree, 
In Flaundres, al biyonde the see, 

At Popering, in the place; 
His fader was a man ful free. 
And lord he was of that contree, 

As it was goddes grace. 



Sir Thopas wex a doghty swayn, 

Whyt was his face as payndemayn, 19 1 5 

His lippes rede as rose; 
His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn. 
And I yow telle in good certayn, 

He hadde a semely nose. 

His heer, his herd was lyk saffroun, 1920 
That to his girdel raughte adoun; 

His shoon of Cordevvane. 
Of Brugges were his hosen broun. 
His robe was of ciclatoun, 

That coste many a lane. 1925 

He coude hunte at wilde deer, 
And ryde an banking for riveer, 

With grey goshauk on honde; 
Ther-to he was a good archeer. 
Of wrastling was ther noon his peer, 1930 

Ther any ram shal stonde. 

Ful many a mayde, bright in hour, 
They moorne for him, paramour, 
Whan hem were bet to slepe; 



But he was chast and no lechour, 1935 
And sweet as Is the bremble-flour 
That bereth the rede hepe. 

And so bifel up-on a day. 
For sothe, as I yow telle may, 

Sir Thopas vvolde out ryde; 1 940 

He worth upon his stede gray. 
And in his honde a launcegay, 

A long swerd by his syde. 

He priketh thurgh a fair forest, 
Ther-inne is many a wilde best, 1945 

Ye, bothe bukke and hare; 
And, as he priketh north and est, 
I telle it yow, him hadde almest 

Bitid a sory care. 

Ther springen herbes grete and smale, 
The lycorys and cetewale, 195' 

And many a clowe-gilofre; 
And notemuge to putte in ale, 
Whether it be moyste or stale. 

Or for to leye in cofre. 1955 

The briddes singe, it is no nay. 
The sparhauk and the papeiay, 

That loye it was to here; 
The thrustelcok made eek his lay, 
The wodedowve upon the spray i960 

She sang ful loude and clere. 

Sir Thopas fil in love-longinge 

Al whan he herde the thrustel singe, 

And priked as he were wood : 
His faire stede in his prikinge 1965 

So swatte that men mighte him wringe. 

His sydes were al blood. 



Sir Thopas eek so wery was 
For prikinge on the softe gras, 
So tiers was his corage, 






1970 



i97i-2o6i.] 



B. SIR THOPAS. 



That doun he leyde hun in that plas 
To make his stede som solas, 
And yaf him good forage. 

* O seinte Marie, benedicite ! 

What eyleth this love at me 1975 

To binde me so sore ? 
Me dremed al this night, pardee. 
An elf-queen shal my lemman be. 

And slepe under my gore. 

An elf-queen wol I love, y-wis, 1980 

For in this world no womman is 
Worthy to be my make 

In toune; 
! AUe othere wommen I forsake. 
And to an elf-queen I me take 1 985 

By dale and eek by doune ! ' 

In-to his sadel he clamb anoon, 
i And priketh over style and stoon 

An elf-queen for tespye, 
Til he so longe had riden and goon 1990 
That he fond, in a privee woon, 

The contree of Fairye 

So wilde; 
For in that contree was ther noon 
That to him dorste ryde or goon, 1995 

Neither wyf ne childe. 

Til that ther cam a greet geaunt, 
His name was sir Olifaunt, 

A perilous man of dede; 
He seyde, * child, by Termagaunt, 2000 
But-if thou prike out of myn haunt, 

Anon I slee thy stede 

With mace. 
Heer is the queen of Fayerye, 2004 

With harpe and pype and simphonye 

Dwelling in this place.' 

The child seyde, ' al-so mote I thee, 
Tomorwe wol I mete thee 

Whan I have myn armoure; 
And yet I hope, par ma fay, 2010 

That thou shalt with this launcegay 

Abyen it ful soure; 

Thy mawe 
Shal I percen, if I may, 
Er it be fully pryme of day, 20 1 5 

For heer thou shalt be slawe.' 



Sir Thopas drow abak ful faste; 
This geaunt at him stones caste 

Out of a fel staf-slinge; 
But faire escapeth child Thopas, 2020 
And al it was thurgh goddes gras, 

And thurgh his fair beringe. 

Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale 
Merier than the nightingale, 

For now I wol yow roune 2025 

How sir Thopas with sydes smale, 
Priking over hil and dale. 

Is come agayn to toune. 

His merie men comanded he 

To make him bothe game and glee, 2030 

For nedes moste he fighte 
With a geaunt with hevedes three, 
For paramour and lolitee 

Of oon that shoon ful brighte. 

* Do come,' he seyde, ' my minstrales, 
And gestours, for to tellen tales 2036 

Anon in myn arminge; 
Of romances that been royales, 
Of popes and of cardinales, 

And eek of love-lykinge.' 2040 

They fette him first the swete wyn, 
And mede eek in a maselyn, 

And royal spicerye 
Of gingebreed that was ful fyn, 
And lycorys, and eek comyn, 2045 

With sugre that is so trye. 

He dide next his whyte lere 
Of clooth of lake fyn and clere 

A breech and eek a sherte; 
And next his sherte an aketoun, 2050 
And over that an habergeoun 

For percinge of his herte; 

And over that a fyn hauberk. 
Was al y-wroght of lewes werk, 

Ful strong it was of plate; 2055 

And over that his cote-armour 
As whyt as is a lily- flour. 

In which he wol debate. 



His sheeld was al of gold so reed, 
And ther-in was a bores heed, 
A charbocle bisyde; 



2060 



90 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2062-2134. 



And there he swoor, on ale and breed, 
How that ' the geaunt shal be deed, 
Bityde what bityde ! ' 

His lambeux were of quirboilly, 2065 
His swerdes shethe of yvory, 

His helm of laton bright; 
His sadel was of rewel-boon, 
His brydel as the Sonne shoon, 

Or as the mone light. 2070 

His spere was of fyn ciprees, 

That bodeth werre, and no-thing pees, 

The heed ful sharpe y-grounde; 
His stede was al dappel-gray. 
It gooth an ambel in the way 2075 

Ful softely and rounde 

In londe. 
Lo, lordes myne, heer is a fit! 
If ye wol any more of it, 

To telle it wol I fonde. 2080 



[ The Second Fit:\ 

Now hold your mouth, /«r charitee, 
Bothe knight and lady free. 
And herkneth to my spelle; 

Here the Host stinteth Cha 



Of bataille and of chivalry, 
And of ladyes love-drury 
Anon I wol yow telle. 



2085 



Men speke of romances of prys, 
Of Horn child and of Ypotys, 

Of Bevis and sir Gy, 
Of sir Libeux and Pleyn-damour; 2090 
But sir Thopas, he bereth the flour 

Of royal chivalry. 

His gode stede al he bistrood, 
And forth upon his wey he glood 

As sparkle out of the bronde; 2095 
Up-on his crest he bar a tour, 
And ther-in stiked a lily-flour, 

God shilde his cors fro shonde ! 

And for he was a knight auntrous. 

He nolde slepen in non hous, 2100 

But liggen in his hode; 
His brighte helm was his wonger, 
And by him baiteth his dextrer 

Of herbes fyne and gode. 

Him-srlif drank water of the wel, 2105 
As did the knight sir Percivel, 
So worthy under wede, 

Til on a day 

iicer of his Tale of Thopas. 



PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS. 



*No more of this, for goddes dignitee,' 
Quod oure hoste, ' for thou makest me 
So wery of thy verray lewednesse 21 1 1 
That, also wisly god my soule blesse, 
Myn eres aken of thy drasty speche; 
Now swiche a rym the devel I biteche ! 
This may wel be rym dogerel,' quod 

he. 2115 

'Why so?' quod I, 'why wiltow lette 

me 
More of my tale than another man, 
Sin that it is the beste rym I can? ' 
' By god,' quod he, * for pleynly, at a 

word. 
Thy drasty ryming is nat worth a tord ; 
Thou doost nought elles but despendest 

tyme, 2121 



Sir, at o word, thou shalt no lenger 

ryme. 
Lat see wher thou canst tellen aught in 

geste, 
Or telle in prose somwhat at the leste 
In which ther be som mirthe or som doc- 

tryne.' 2125 

'Gladly,' quod I, 'by goddes swete 

pyne, 
I wol yow telle a litel thing in prose, 
That oghte lyken yow, as I suppose, 
Or elles, certes, ye been to daungerous. 
It is a moral tale vertuous, 2130 

Al be it told som-tyme in sondry wyse 
Of sondry folk, as I shal yow devyse. 
As thus; ye woot that every evangelist. 
That telleth us the peyne of lesu Crist, 



2I35-2I72.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



91 



Ne saith nat al thing as his felaw 
dooth, 2135 

But natheles, hir sentence is al sooth, 
And alle acorden as in hir sentence, 
Al be ther in hir telling difference. 
For somme of hem seyn more, and somme 
lesse, 2139 

When they his pitous passioun expresse; 
I mene of Marke, Mathew, Luk and lohn; 
But doutelees hir sentence is al oon. 
Therfor, lordinges alle, I yow biseche, 
If that ye thinke I varie as in my speche, 
As thus, thogh that I telle som-what 
more 2145 



Of proverbes, than ye han herd bifure. 
Comprehended in this litel tretis here. 
To enforce with the theffect of my 

matere. 
And thogh I nat the same wordes seye 
As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye, 
Blameth me nat; for, as in my sen- 
tence, 2151 
Ye shul not fynden moche difference 
Fro the sentence of this tretis lyte 
After the which this mery tale I wryte. 
And therfor herkneth what that I shal 
seye, 2155 
And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye.' 



Explicit. 



THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 

[The mark / denotes the lines.] 



Here biginneth Chancers Tale of 
Melibee. 

§ I. A yong man called Melibeus, 
mighty and riche, bigat up-on his 
wyf that called was Prudence, a 
doghter which that called was 
Sophie. / 

§ 2. Upon a day bifel that he for 
his desport is went in-to the feeldes 
him to pleye. / His wyf and eek 
his doghter hath he left inwith his 
hous, of which the dores weren fast 
y-shette. / Thre of his olde foos 
han it espyed, and setten laddres to 
the walles of his hous, and by the 
2160 windowes ben entred, /and betten 
his wyf, and wounded his doghter 
with fyve mortal woundes in fyve 
sondry places; /this is to seyn, in 
hir feet, in hir handes, in hir eres, 
in hir nose, and in hir mouth; and 
leften hir for deed, and wenten 
awey. / 

§ 3. When Melibeus retourned 
was in-to his hous, and saugh al 
this meschief, he, lyk a mad man, 
rendinge his clothes, gan to wepe 
and crye./ 



§ 4. Prudence his wyf, as ferforth 
as she dorste, bisoghte him of his 
weping for to stinte ; / but nat for- 
thy he gan to crye and wepen ever 
lenger the more./ 2165 

§ 5. This noble wyf Prudence re- 
membered hir upon the sentence of 
Ovide, in his book that cleped is 
The Remedie of Love, wher-as he 
seith; / 'he is a fool that destourb- 
eth the moder to wepen in the deeth 
of hir child, til she have wept hir 
fille, as for a certein tyme ; / and 
thanne shal man doon his diligence 
with amiable wordes hir to recon- 
forte, and preyen hir of hir weping 
for to stinte.'/ For which resoun 
this noble wyf Prudence suffredhir 
housbond for to wepe and crye as 
for a certein space; / and whan she 
saugh hir tyme, she seyde him in 
this wyse. 'Alias, my lord,' quod 
she, * why make ye your-self for to 
be lyk a fool ? / For sothe, it 2170 
aperteneth nat to a wys man, to 
maken swiche a sorwe. / Your 
doghter, with the grace of god, shal 
warisshe and escape. / And al 
were it so that she right now were 



92 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2173-2200. 



deed, ye ne oghte nat as for 
hir deeth your-self to destroye. / 
Senek seith : " the wise man shal 
nat take to greet disconfort for the 
deeth of his children, / but certes 
he sholde suffren it in pacience, as 
wel as he abydeth the deeth of his 

2175 owene propre persone." '/ 

§ 6. This Melibeus answerde 
anon and seyde, ' What man,' quod 
he, ' shokle of his weping stinte, 
that hath so greet a cause for to 
wepe ? / lesu Crist, our lord, him- 
self wepte for the deeth of Lazarus 
his freend.'/ Prudence answerde, 
' Certes, wel I woot, attempree 
weping is no-thing defended to him 
that sorweful is, amonges folk in 
sorwe, but it is rather graunted him 
to wepe. / The Apostle Paul un-to 
the Romayns wryteth, " man shal 
reioyse with hem that maken loye, 
and wepen with svvich folk as 
wepen."/ But thogh attempree 
weping be y-graunted, outrageous 

2180 weping certes is defended. / Mes- 
ure of weping sholde be considered, 
after the lore that techeth us 
Senek. / " Whan that thy freend 
is deed," quod he, " lat nat thyne 
eyen to moyste been of teres, ne to 
niuche drye; althogh the teres 
come to thyne eyen, lat hem nat 
falle."/ And whan thou hast for- 
goon thy freend, do diligence to 
gete another freend; and this is 
more wysdom than for to wepe for 
thy freend which that thou hast 
lorn; for ther-inne is no bote./ 
And therfore, if ye governe yow by 
sapience, put awey sorwe out of 
your herte. / Remembre yow that 
lesus Syrak seith : " a man that is 
loyous and glad in herte, it him 
conserveth florisshing in his age; 
but soothly sorweful herte maketh 

2185 ^^^ bones drye."/ He seith eek 
thus : " that sorwe in herte sleeth 
ful many a man."/ Salomon seith : 
" that, right as motthes in the shepes 
flees anoyeth to the clothes, and the 
smale wormes to the tree, right so 
anoyeth sorwe to the herte." / 



Wherfore us oghte, as wel in the 
deeth of our children as in the losse 
of our goodes temporels, have 
pacience. / 

§ 7. Remembre yow up-on the ^ 

pacient lob, whan he hadde lost his j 

children and his temporel substance, a 

and in his body endured and re- 
ceyved ful many a grevous tribu- 
lacioun ; yet seyde he thus : / " our 
lord hath yeven it me, our lord hath 
biraft it me ; right as our lord hath 
wold, right so it is doon ; blessed be 
the name of our lord." ' / To thise 2190 
foreseide thinges answerde Melibeus 
un-to his wyf Prudence : ' Alle thy 
wordes,' quod he, ' been sothe, and 
ther-to profitaT)le ; but trewely myn 
herte is troubled with this sorwe so 
grevously, that I noot what to 
done.' / ' Lat calle,' quod Pru- 
dence, ' thy trewe freendes alle, and 
thy linage whiche that been wyse ; 
telleth your cas, and herkneth what 
they seye in conseiling, and yow 
governe after hir sentence. / Sal- | 

omon seith : " werk alle thy thinges " 

by conseil, and thou shalt never 
repente." ' / 

§ 8. Thanne, by the conseil of 
his wyf Prudence, this Melibeus leet 
callen a greet congregacioun of 
folk; / as surgiens, phisiciens, olde 
folk and yonge, and somme of hise 
olde enemys reconsiled as by hir 
semblaunt to his love and in-to 
his grace ; / and ther-with-al ther 2195 
comen somme of hise neighebores 
that diden him reverence more for 
drede than for love, as it happeth 
ofte. / Ther comen also ful many 
subtile flatterers, and wyse advocats 
lerned in the lawe. / 

§ 9. And whan this folk togidre J 

assembled weren, this Melibeus in 1 

sorweful wyse shewed hem his cas; / 
and by the manere of his speche it 
semed that in herte he bar a cruel 
ire, redy to doon vengeaunce up-on 
hise foos, and sodeynly desired that 
the werre sholde biginne ; / but 
nathelees yet axed he hir conseil 
upon this matere. / A surgien, by 2200 



2201-2225-] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



93 



licence and assent of swiche as 
weren wyse, up roos and un-to 
Melibeus seyde as ye may here. / 
§ lo. 'Sir,' quod he, 'as to us 
surgiens aperteneth, that we do to 
every wight the beste that we can, 
wher-as we been with-holde, and to 
our pacients that we do no dam- 
age ; / wherfore it happeth, many 
tyme and ofte, that whan twey men 
ban everich wounded other, oon 
same surgien heleth hem bothe; / 
wherefore un-to our art it is nat 
pertinent to norice werre ne parties 
to supporte. / But certes, as to the 
warisshinge of your doghter, al-be-it 
so that she perilously be wounded, 
we shullen do so ententif bisinesse 
fro day to night, that with the grace 
of god she shal be hool and sound. 

2205 as sone as is possible.' / Almost 
right in the same wyse the phisi- 
ciens answerden, save that they 
seyden a fewe wordes more : / 
' That, right as maladyes been cured 
by hir contraries, right so shul men 
warisshe were by vengeaunce.' / 
His neighebores, ful of envye, his 
feyned freendes that semeden recon- 
siled, and his flatereres, / maden 
semblant of weping, and empeireden 
and agreggeden muchel of this 
matere, in preising greetly Melibee 
of might, of power, of richesse, 
and of freendes, despysinge the 
power of his adversaries, / and 
seiden outrely that he anon sholde 
wreken him on his foos and biginne 

2210 werre. / 

§ 1 1. Up roos thanne an advocat 
that was wys, by leve and by conseil 
of othere that were wyse, and 
seyde : / ' Lordinges, the nede for 
which we been assembled in this 
place is a ful hevy thing and an 
heigh matere, / by-cause of the 
wrong and of the wikkednesse that 
hath be doon, and eek by resoun 
of the grete damages that in tyme 
cominge been possible to fallen for 
this same cause ; / and eek by resoun 
of the grete richesse and power of 
the parties bothe ; / for the whiche 



resouns it were a ful greet peril to 
erren in this matere. / Wherfore, 2215 
Melibeus, this is our sentence : we 
conseille yow aboven alle thing, 
that right anon thou do thy diligence 
in kepinge of thy propre persone, 
in swich a wyse that thou ne wante 
noon espye ne wacche, thy body for 
to save. / And after that we con- 
seille, that in thyn hous thou sette 
suffisant garnisoun, so that they may 
as well thy body as thyn hous de- 
fende. / But certes, for to moeve 
werre, or sodeynly for to doon ven- 
geaunce, we may nat demen in so 
litel tyme that it were profitable. / 
Wherfore we axen leyser and espace 
to have deliberacioun in this cas to 
deme. / For the commune pro- 
verbe seith thus : " he that sone 
demeth, sone shal repente." / And 2220 
eek men seyn that thilke luge is 
wys, that sone understondeth a 
matere and luggeth by leyser. / 
For al-be-it so that alle tarying be 
anoyful, algates it is nat to repreve 
in yevinge of lugement, ne in ven- 
geance-taking, whan it is suffisant 
and resonable. / And that shewed 
our lord lesu Crist by ensample; 
for whan that the womman that was 
taken in avoutrie was broght in his 
presence, to knowen what sholde 
be doon with hir persone, al-be-it 
so that he wiste wel him-self what 
that he wolde answere, yet ne wolde 
he nat answere sodeynly, but he 
wolde have deliberacioun, and in 
the ground he wroot twyes. / 
And by thise causes we axen 
deliberacioun, and we shal thanne, 
by the grace of god, conseille 
thee thing that shal be profita- 
ble.'/ 

§ 12. Up stirten thanne the yonge 
folk at-ones, and the moste partie 
of that companye han scorned the 
olde wyse men, and bigonnen to 
make noyse, and seyden : that, / 2225 
right so as whyl that iren is hoot, 
men sholden smyte, right so, men 
sholde wreken hir wronges whyle 
that they been fresshe and newe; 



94 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2226-2249, 



and with loud voys they cryden, 



werre ! werre 



/ 



Up roos tho oon of thise olde 
wyse, and with his hand made con- 
tenaunce that men sholde holden 
hem stille and yeven him audience./ 
' Lordinges,' quod he, ' ther is ful 
many a man that cryeth " werre ! 
werre ! " that woot ful litel what 
werre amounteth. / Werre at his 
biginning hath so greet an entree 
and so large, that every wight may 
entre whan him lyketh, and lightly 
finde werre. / But, certes, what 
ende that shal ther-of bifalle, it is 

2230 nat light to knowe. / For sothly, 
whan that werre is ones bigonne, 
ther is ful many a child unborn of 
his moder, that shal sterve yong by- 
cause of that ilka werre, or elles live 
in sorwe and dye in wrecchednesse./ 
And ther-fore, er that any werre 
biginne, men moste have greet con- 
seil and greet deliberacioun.' / And 
whan this olde man wende to en- 
forcen his tale by resons, wel ny 
alle at-ones bigonne they to ryse for 
to breken his tale, and beden him 
ful ofte his wordes for to abregge. / 
For soothly, he that precheth to 
hem that listen nat heren his wordes, 
his sermon hem anoyeth. / For 
lesus Syrak seith : that *' musik in 
wepinge is anoyous thing ; " this is 
to seyn : as muche availleth to 
speken bifore folk to whiche his 
speche anoyeth, as dooth to singe 

2235 biforn him that wepeth. / And 
whan this wyse man saugh that him 
wanted audience, al shamefast he 
sette him doun agayn. / For Sal- 
omon seith : " ther-as thou ne mayst 
have noon audience, enforce thee 
nat to speke." / ' I see wel,' quod 
this wyse man, ' that the commune 
proverbe is sooth; that " good con- 
seil wanteth whan it is most 
nede." ' / 

§ 13. Yet hadde this Melibeus in 
his conseil many folk, that prively 
in his ere conseilled him certeyn 
thing, and conseilled him the con- 
trarie in general audience. / 



Whan Melibeus hadde herd that 
the gretteste partie of his conseil 
weren accorded that he sholde 
maken werre, anoon he consented 
to hir conseilling, and fully affermed 
hir sentence. / Thanne dame Pru- 
dence, whan that she saugh how 
that hir housbonde shoop him for 
to wreken him on his foos, and to 
biginne werre, she in ful humble 
wyse, when she saugh hir tyme, 
seide him thise wordes : / ' My lord,' 
quod she, ' 1 yow biseche as hertely 
as I dar and can, ne haste yow nat 
to faste, and for alle guerdons as 
yeveth me audience. / For Piers 
Alfonce seith : " who-so that dooth 
to that other good or harm, haste 
thee nat to quyten it; for in this 
wyse thy freend wol abyde, and 
thyn enemy shal the lenger live in 
drede." / The proverbe seith : 
" he hasteth wel that wysely can 
abyde; " and in wikked haste is no 
profit.' / 

§ 14. This Melibee answerde 
un-to his wyf Prudence: *I pur- 
pose nat,' quod he, ' to werke by thy 
conseil, for many causes and resouns. 
For certes every wight wolde holde 
me thanne a fool; / this is to seyn, 
if I, for thy conseilling, wolde 
chaungen thinges that been or- 
deyned and afi'ermed by so manye 
wyse. / Secoundly I seye, that 
alle wommen been wikke and noon 
good of hem alle. For " of a thou- 
sand men," seith Salomon, " I fond 
a good man : but certes, of alle 
wommen, good womman fond I 
never." / And also certes, if I 
governed me by thy conseil, it 
sholde seme that I hadde yeve to 
thee over me the maistrie; and god 
forbede that it so were. / For 
lesus Syrak seith; "that if the wyf 
have maistrie, she is contrarious to 
hir housbonde." / And Salomon 
seith : " never in thy lyf, to thy wyf, 
ne to thy child, ne to thy freend, ne 
yeve no power over thy-self. For 
bettre it were that thy children aske 
of thy persone thinges that hem 



2250-2273.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



95 



nedeth, than thou see thy-self in the 
2250 handes of thy children." / And 
also, if I wolde werke by thy con- 
seilling, certes my conseilling moste 
som tyme be secree, til it were tyme 
that it moste be knovve; and this ne 
may noght be. / [For it is writen, 
that " the langlerie of wommen 
can hyden thinges that they witen 
noght." / Furthermore, the philo- 
sophre seith, " in wikked conseil 
wommen venquisshe men ; " and 
for thise resouns I ne owe nat usen 
thy conseil.'] / 

§ 15. Whanna dame Prudence, 
ful debonairly and with greet pa- 
cience, hadde herd al that hir hous- 
bonde lyked for to seye, thanne 
axed she of him licence for to speke, 
and seyde in this wyse. / * My 
lord,' quod she, ' as to your firste 
resoun, certes it may lightly been 
answered. For I seye, that it is no 
folic to chaunge conseil whan the 
thing is chaunged; or elles whan 
the thing semeth otherweyes than 
2255 it was biforn. / And more-over I 
seye, that though ye han sworn and 
bihight to perfourne your emprise, 
and nathelees ye weyve to perfourne 
thilke same emprise by luste cause, 
men sholde nat seyn therefore that 
ye were a Iyer ne forsworn. / For 
the book seith, that " the wyse man 
maketh no lesing whan he turneth 
his corage to the bettre." / And 
al-be-it so that your emprise be 
establissed and ordeyned by greet 
multitude of folk, yet thar ye nat 
accomplice thilke same ordinaunce 
but yow lyke. / For the trouthe 
of thinges and the profit been rather 
founden in fewe folk that been wyse 
and ful of resoun, than by greet 
multitude of folk, ther every man 
cryeth and clatereth what that him 
lyketh. Soothly swich multitude is 
nat honeste. / As to the seconde 
resoun, where-as ye seyn that " alle 
wommen been wikke," save your 
grace, certes ye despysen alle wom- 
men in this wyse; and "he that 
alle despyseth alle displeseth," as 



seith the book. / And Senek seith 2260 
that " who-so wole have sapience, 
shal no man dispreise; but he shal 
gladly techen the science that he 
can, with-outen presumpcioun or 
pryde. / And swiche thinges as he 
nought ne can, he shal nat been 
ashamed to lerne hem and enquere 
of lasse folk than him-self." / And 
sir, that ther hath Ijeen many a good 
womman, may lightly be preved. / 
For certes, sir, our lord lesu Crist 
wolde never have descended to be 
born of a womman, if alle wommen 
hadden ben wikke. / And after 
that, for the grete bountee that is in 
wommen, our lord lesu Crist, whan 
he was risen fro deeth to lyve, ap- 
peered rather to a womman than to 
his apostles. / And though that 2265 
Salomon seith, that " he ne fond 
never womman good," it folweth 
nat therfore that alle wommen ben 
wikke. / For though that he ne fond 
no good womman, certes, ful many 
another man hath founden many a 
womman ful good and trewe. / Or 
elles per-aventure the entente of 
Salomon was this; that, as in sov- 
ereyn bountee, he fond no wom- 
man; / this is to seyn, that ther is 
no wight that hath sovereyn bountee 
save god allone; as he him-self re- 
cordeth in his Evaungelie. / For 
ther nis no creature so good that 
him ne wanteth somwhat of the 
perfeccioun of god, that is his 
maker. / Your thridde resoun is 2270 
this : ye seyn that " if ye governe 
yow by my conseil, it sholde seme 
that ye hadde yeve me the maistrie 
and the lordshipe over your per- 
sone." / Sir, save your grace, it is 
nat so. For if it were so, that no 
man sholde be conseilled but only 
of hem that hadden lordshipe and 
maistrie of his persone, men wolden 
nat be conseilled so ofte. / For 
soothly, thilke man that asketh con- 
seil of a purpos, yet hath he free 
chois, wheither he wole werke by 
that conseil or noon. / And as to 
your fourthe resoun, ther ye seyn 



or, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2274-2303. 



that " the langlcric of wommen 
hath hid thingcs that they woot 
noght," as who scith, that " a wom- 
man can nat hyde that she woot;" / 
sir, thise wordes been understonde 
of wommen that been langleresses 
and wikked; / of whiche wommen, 
men seyn that " three thinges dryven 
a man out of his hous; that is to 
seyn, smoke, dropping of reyn, and 
wikked wyves; " / and of swiciie 
wommen seith Salomon, that, " it 
were bettre dwelle in desert, than 
with a womman that is riotous." / 
And sir, I)y your leve, that am nat 
1; / for ye han ful ofte assayed my 
grete silence and my gret pacience; 
and eek how wel that I can hyde 
and liele thinges that men oghte 
secreely to hyde. / And soothly, 
as to your lifthe resoun, wher-as ye 
seyn, that " in wikked conseil wom- 
men venquisshc men; " god woot, 
thilke resoun stant here in no 

2280 stede. / For understond now, ye 
askcn conseil to do wikketlnesse; / 
and if ye wole werken vvikkedncsse, 
and ytmr wyf restreynetli thilke 
wikked ])urpos, and overcometh yow 
by resoun and by goofl conseil; / 
certes, your wyf oghte rather to be 
preised than y-blamed. / Thus 
sholde ye understonde the philoso- 
l)hre that seith, " in wikked conseil 
wommen ven(|uisshen hir hous- 
bondes." / Aiifl Iher-as ye blamen 
alle wommen and hir resouns, I shal 
shewe yow by manye ensamplcs that 
many a womman hath ben ful good, 
and yet l)een; and hir conseils ful 

2285 hoolsome and profitable. / Eek 
som men han seyd, that " the con- 
seillinge of wommen is outher to 
dere, or elles to litcl of prys." / 
But al-be-it so, that ful many a 
womman is badde, and hir conseil 
vile and noght worth, yet han men 
founde ful many a good womman, 
and ful discrete and wise in con- 
seillingc. / Lo, lacob, by good 
conseil of his moder Rel)ekka, wan 
the benisoun of Ysaak his fader, 
and the lordshipe over alle his 



bretheren. / ludith, by hir good 
conseil, delivered the citee of Hctliu- 
lie, in which she dwelled, out of the 
handes of Olofernus, that hadde it 
biscged and wolde have al destroyed 
it. / Abigail delivered Nabal hir 
housbonde fro David the king, that 
wolde have slayn him, and apaysed 
the ire of the king by hir wit and 
by hir good conseilling. / Hester 2290 
by hir good conseil enhaunced 
greetly the peple of god in the 
regne of Assuerus the king. / And 
the same bountee in good conseill- 
ing of many a good womman may 
men telle. / And moreover, whan 
our lord liadde creat Adam our 
forme-fader, he seyde in thiswyse : / 
" it is nat good to been a man allone; 
make we to him an help seml)lal)le 
to himself.^' / Here may ye se 
that, if that wommen were nat 
goode, and hir conseils goode and 
profitable, / our lord god of hevene 2295 
wolde never han wroght hem, ne 
called hem help of man, but rather 
confusioun of man. / And ther 
seyde ones a clerk in two vers : 
" what is bettre than gold? laspre. 
What is bettre than laspre? Wis- 
dom. / And what is bettre than 
wisd(jm? Womman. And what is 
bettre than a good W(jmman? No- 
thing." / And sir, by manye of 
othre resons may ye seen, that 
manye wommen been goode, and 
hir conseils goode and profitable. / 
And therfore sir, if ye wol triste to 
my conseil, I shal restore yow your 
doghtcr hool and sound. / And 2300 
eek I wol do to yow so muche, that 
ye shul have honour in this cause.' / 
§ 16. Whan Melibee hadde herd 
the wordes of his wyf Prudence, he 
seyde thus: /'I see wel that the 
word of Sahniion is sooth ; he seith, 
that " wordes that been spoken dis- 
creetly by ordinaunce, been hony- 
combes; for they yeven swetnesse 
to the soule, and hoolsomncsse to 
the body." / And wyf, by-causc of 
thy swete wordes, and eek for I 
have assayed and preved thy grete 



2304-2337-] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



97 



sapience and thy grete trouthe, I 
wol governe me by thy conseil in 
alle thing.' / 

§ 1 7. * Now sir,' quod dame Pru- 
dence, * and sin ye vouche-sauf 
to been governed by my conseil, I 
wol enforme ydw how ye shul gov- 
erne your-self in chesinge of your 

2305 conseillours. / Ye shul Hrst, in alle 
your werkes, mekely biseken to the 
heighe god that he wol be your 
conseiliour; / and shapeth yow to 
swich entente, that he yeve yow 
conseil and con fort, as taughte 
Thobie his sone. / " At alle tymes 
thou shalt blesse god, and preye 
him to dresse thy weyes"; and 
looke that alle thy conseils been in 
him for evermore. / Seint lameeek 
seith : " if any of yow have nede of 
sapience, axe it of god." / And 
afterward thanne shul ye taken con- 
seil in your-self, and examine wel 
your thoghtcs, of swich thing as 
yow thinketh that is l)est for your 

2310 prolit. / And thanne shul ye dryve 
fro your herte three thinges that 
been contrariouse to good conseil,/ 
that is to seyn, ire, coveitise, and 
hastifnesse. / 

§ 18. First, he that axeth conseil 
of him-self, certes he moste been 
with-outen ire, for manye causes. / 
The firste is this : he that hath greet 
ire and wratthe in him-self, he 
weneth alwey that he may do thing 
that he may nat do. / And sec- 
oundely, he that is irous and wroth, 

2315 he ne may nat wel deme; / and he 
that may nat wel deme, may nat 
wel conseille. / The thridde is 
this; that " he that is irous and 
wrooth," as seith vScnek, " ne may 
nat speke but he blame thinges; "/ 
and with his viciouse wordes he 
stireth other folk to angre and to 
ire. / And eck sir, ye moste dryve 
coveitise out of your herte. / For 
the apostle seith, that " coveitise is 

2320 rote of alle harmes." / And trust 
wel that a coveitous man ne can 
noght deme ne thinke, but only to 
fulfiUe the ende of his coveitise; / 



and certes, that ne may never be 
accompliced; for ever the more 
habundaunce that he hath of rich- 
esse, the more he desyreth. / And 
sir, ye moste also dryve out of your 
herte hastifnesse ; for certes, / ye 
ne may nat deme for the beste a 
sodeyn thought that falleth in youre 
herte, but ye moste avyse yow on it 
ful oftc. / For as ye herde biforn, 
the commune proverbe is this, that 
" he that sone demeth, sone repent- 
eth." / 2325 

§ 19. Sir, ye ne be nat alwey in 
lyke disposicioun; / for certes, som 
thing that somtyme semeth to yow 
that it is good for to do, another 
tyme it semeth to yow the contra- 
rie. / 

§ 20. Whan ye han taken con- 
seil in your-self, and han denied by 
good deliberacion swich thing as 
you semeth best, / thanne rede I 
yow, that ye kepe it secree. / Bi- 
wrey nat your conseil to no persone, 
bul-if so be that ye wenen sikerly 
that, thurgh your biwreying, your 
contiicioun shal be to yow the more 
profitable. / For lesus Syrak 2330 
seith : " neither to thy foe ne to 
thy freend discovere nat thy secree 
ne thy folie; / for they wol yeve 
yow audience and loking and sup- 
portacioun in thy presence, and 
scorne thee in thyn absence." / 
Another clerk seith, that "scarsly 
shaltou linden any persone that 
may kepe conseil secreely." / The 
book seith : " whyl that thou kep- 
est thy conseil in thyn herte, thou 
kepest it in thy prisoun : / and 
whan thou biwreyest thy conseil to 
any wight, he holdcth thee in his 
snare." / And therefore yow is 2335 
bettre to hyde your conseil in your 
herte, than praye him, to whom ye 
han biwreyed your conseil, that he 
wole kepen it cloos and stille. / 
For Seneca seith : " if so be that 
thou ne mayst nat thyn owene con- 
seil hyde, how darstou prayen any 
other wight thy conseil secreely to 
kepe?"/ But nathelees, if thou 



98 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2338-2365. 



wene sikcrly that the biwreying of 
thy conseil to a persone wol make 
thy conclicioun to stonden in the 
bettre plyt,thanne shaltou tellen him 
thy conseil in this vvyse. / First, 
thou shalt make no semblant 
whether thee were lever pees or 
werre, or this or that, ne shcwe him 
nat thy wille and thyn entente; / 
for trust vvel, that comunly thise 

2340 conseilloursbeen flatereres, / name- 
ly the conseillours of grete lordes ; / 
for they enforcen hem alwey rather 
to speken plesante wordes, enclyn- 
inge to the lordes lust, than wordes 
that been trewe or profitable. / 
And therfore men seyn, that " the 
riche man hath scld good conseil 
but-if he have it of him-self." / 
And after that, thou shalt considere 
thy freendes and thyne enemys. / 
And as touchinge thy freendes, thou 
shalt considere vvhiche of hem l^een 
most feithful and most wyse, and eld- 
est and most approved in conseil- 

2345 ling. / And of hem shalt thou aske 
thy conseil, as the caas requireth. / 
§ 21. I seye that first ye shul 
clepe to your conseil your freendes 
that been trewe. / For Salomon 
seith : that " right as the herte of 
a man delyteth in savour that is 
sote, right so the conseil of trewe 
freendes yeveth swetenesse to the 
soule." / He seith also: " ther 
may no-thing be lykned to the 
trewe freend." / P'or certes, gold 
ne silver beth nat so muche worth 

2-, CO as the gode wil of a trewe freend. / 
And eek he seith, that " a trewe 
freend is a strong deffense; who-so 
that it iindeth, certes he findeth a 
greet tresour." / Thanne shul ye 
eek considere, if that your trewe 
freendes been discrete and wyse. 
For the book seith : " axe alwey 
thy conseil of hem that been 
wyse." / And by this same resoun 
shul ye clepen to your conseil, of 
your freendes that been of age, 
swiche as ban seyn and been expert 
in manye thinges, and been ap- 
proved in conseillinges. / For the 



book seith, that " in olde men is 
the sapience and in longe tyme the 
prudence." / And TuUius seith : 
that "grete thinges ne been nat ay 
accompliced by strengthe, ne by 
delivernesse of body, but by good 
conseil, by auctoritee of persones, 
and by science ; the whiche three 
thinges ne been nat fel>le by age, 
but certes they enforcen and en- 
creesen day by day." / And thanne 
shul ye kepe this for a general 
reule. First shul ye clepen to your 
conseil a fewe of your freendes that 
been especiale; / for Salomon 
seith: "manye freendes have thou; 
but among a thousand chese thee 
oon to be thy conseillour." / For 
al-bc-it so that thou first ne telle 
thy conseil but to a fewe, thou 
mayst afterward telle it to mo folk, 
if it be nede. / But loke alwey 
that thy conseillours have thilke 
three condiciouns that 1 have seyd 
bifore; that is to seyn, that they be 
trewe, wyse, and of old experience./ 
And werke nat alwey in every nede 
by oon conseillour allone; for som- 
tyme bihoveth it to been conseilled 
by manye. / P"or Salomon seith : 
" salvacioun of thinges is wher-as 
ther been manye conseillours." / 

§ 22. Now sith that I have told 
yow of which folk ye sholde been 
counseilled, now wol I teche yow 
which conseil ye oglite to eschewe./ 
P'irst ye shul eschewe the conseilling 
offoles; for Salomon seith : " taak 
no conseil of a fool, for he ne can 
noght conseille but after his owene 
lust and his affeccioun." / The 
book seith : that " the propretee of 
a fool is this; he troweth lightly 
harm of every wight, and lightly 
troweth alle bountee in him-self." / 
Thou shalt eek eschewe the con- 
seilling of alle flatereres, swiche as 
enforcen hem rather to preise your 
persone by flaterye than for to telle 
yow the sothfastnesse of thinges./ 

§ 23. Wherfore TuUius seith : 
" amonges alle the pestilences that 
been in freendshipe, the gretteste 



2366-2394-] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



99 



is flaterye." And therfore is it 
more nede that thou eschewe and 
drede flatereres than any other pe- 
ple. / The hook seith : " thou 
shalt rather drede and flee fro the 
swete wordes of flateringe preiseres, 
than fro the egre wordes of thyfreend 
that seith thee thy sothes." / 
Salomon seith, that " the wordes 
of a flaterere is a snare to cacche 
with innocents." / He seith also, 
that " he that speketh to his freend 
wordes of swetnesse and of ples- 
aunce, setteth a net biforn his feet 
to cacche him." / And therfore 
seith Tullius : " enclyne nat thyne 
eres to flatereres, ne taketh no con- 

2370 seil of wordes of flaterye." / And 
Caton seith : " avyse thee wel, and 
eschewe the wordes of swetnesse 
and of plesaunce." / And eek 
thou shalt eschewe the conseilling 
of thyne olde enemys that been 
reconsiled. / The book seith : that 
" no wight retourneth saufly in-to 
the grace of his olde enemy." / 
And Isope seith : " ne trust nat to 
hem to whiche thou hast had som- 
tyme werre or enmitee, ne telle 
hem nat thy conseil." / And 
Seneca telleth the cause why. " It 
may nat be," seith he, " that, where 
greet fyr hath longe tyme endured, 
that ther ne dwelleth som vapour 

2375 of warmnesse," / And therfore 
seith Salomon : " iri thyn olde foo 
trust never." / For sikerly, though 
thyn enemy be reconsiled and mak- 
eth thee chere of humilitee, and 
louteth to thee with his heed, ne 
trust him never. / For certes, he 
maketh thilke feyned humilitee 
more for his profit than for any love 
of thy persone; by-cause that he 
demeth to have victorie over thy 
persone by swich feyned conte- 
nance, the which victorie he mighte 
nat have by stryf or werre. / And 
Peter Alfonce seith : " make no 
felawshipe with thyne olde enemys; 
for if thou do hem bountee, they 
wol perverten it in-to wikked- 
ncsse." / And eek thou most 



eschewe the conseilling of hem that 
been thy servants, and beren thee 
greet reverence; for peraventure 
they seyn it more for drede than 
for love. / And therfore seith a 238a 
philosophre in this wyse : " ther 
is no wight parfitly trewe to him 
that he to sore dredeth." / And 
Tullius seith : " ther nis no might 
so greet of any emperour, that longe 
may endure, but-if he have more 
love of the peple than drede." / 
Thou shalt also eschewe the con- 
seiling of folk that been dronke- 
lewe ; for they ne can no conseil 
hyde. / For Salomon seith : " ther 
is no privetee ther-as regneth 
dronkenesse." / Ye shul also han 
in suspect the conseilling of swich 
folk as conseille yow a thing prively, 
and conseille yow the contrarie 
openly. / For Cassidorie seith : 2385 
that " it is a maner sleighte to hin- 
dre, whan he sheweth to doon a 
thing openly and werketh prively 
the contrarie." / Thou shalt also 
have in suspect the conseilling of 
wikked folk. For the book seith : 
" the conseilling of wikked folk 
is alwey ful of fraude : " / And 
David seith : " blisful is that man 
that hath nat folvved the conseilling 
of shrewes." / Thou shalt also 
eschewe the conseilling of yong 
folk; for hir conseil is nat rype. / 

§ 24. Now sir, sith I have 
shewed yow of which folk ye shul 
take your conseil, and of which 
folk ye shul folwe the conseil, / 2390 
now wol I teche yow how ye shal 
examine your conseil, after the 
doctrine of Tullius. / In the ex- 
amininge thanne of your conseil- 
lour, ye shul considere manye 
thinges. / Alderfirst thou shalt 
considere, that in thilke thing that 
thou purposest, and upon what 
thing thou wolt have conseil, that 
verray trouthe be seyd and con- 
served; this is to seyn, telle trewely 
thy tale. / For he that seith fals 
may nat wel be conscilled, in that 
cas of which he lyeth. / And after 



L.ofC. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2395-2423. 



this, thou shalt considere the 
thinges that acorden to that thou 
purposest for to do by thy conseil- 

2395 lours, if resoun accorde therto; / 
and eek, if thy might may atteine 
ther-to; and if the more part and 
the bettre part of thy conseillours 
acorde ther-to, or no. / Thanne 
shaltou considere what thing shal 
folwe of that conseilling; as hate, 
pees, werre, grace, profit, or dam- 
age; and manye othere thinges. / 
And in alle thise thinges thou shalt 
chese the beste, and weyve alle 
othere thinges. / Thanne shaltow 
considere of what rote is engendred 
the matere of thy conseil, and what 
fruit it may conceyve and engen- 
dre./ Thou shalt eek considere 
alle thise causes, fro whennes they 

2400 been sprongen. / And whan ye 
han examined your conseil as I 
have seyd, and which partie is the 
bettre and more profitable, and hast 
approved it by manye wyse folk 
and olde; / thanne shaltou con- 
sidere, if thou mayst parfourne it 
and maken of it a good ende. / 
For certes, resoun wol nat that any 
man sholde biginne a thing, but-if 
he mighte parfourne it as him 
oghte./ Ne no wight sholde take 
up-on hym so hevy a charge that he 
mighte nat here it. / For the pro- 
verbe seith : " he that to muche 

2405 embraceth, distreyneth litel." / 
And Catouu seith : " assay to do 
svvich thing as thou hast power to 
doon, lest that the charge oppresse 
thee so sore, that thee bihoveth to 
weyve thing that thou hast bi- 
gonne." / And if so be that thou 
be in doute, whether thou mayst par- 
fourne a thing or noon, chese rather 
to suffre than biginne. / And 
Piers Alphonce seith : " if thou 
hast might to doon a thing of which 
thou most repente thee, it is bettre 
* nay ' than ' ye ' ; " / this is to seyn, 
that thee is bettre holde thy tonge 
stille, than for to speke. / Thanne 
may ye understonde by strenger 
resons, that if thou hast power to 



parfourne a werk of which thou 
shalt repente, thanne is it bettre 
that thou suffre than biginne. / 2410 
Wei seyn they, that defenden every 
wight to assaye any thing of which 
he is in doute, whether he may 
parfourne it or no. / And after, 
whan ye han examined your conseil 
as I have seyd biforn, and knowen 
wel that ye may parfourne youre 
emprise, conferme it thanne sadly 
til it be at an ende. / 

§ 25. Now is it resoun and tyme 
that I shewe yow whanne, and 
wherfore, that ye may chaunge 
your conseil with-outen your re- 
preve. / Soothly, a man may 
chaungen his purpos and his con- 
seil if the cause cesseth, or whan 
a newe caas bitydeth. / For the 
lawe seith : that " upon thinges 
that newely bityden bihoveth newe 
conseil." / And Senek seith : 2415 
•' if thy conseil is comen to the ercs 
of thyn enemy, chaunge thy con- 
seil." / Thou mayst also chaunge 
thy conseil if so be that thou finde 
that, by errour or by other cause, 
harm or damage may bityde. / 
Also, if thy conseil be dishonest, or 
elles Cometh of dishoneste cause, 
chaunge thy conseil. / For the 
lawes seyn : that " alle bihestes 
that been dishoneste been of no 
value." / And eek, if it so be 
that it be inpossil)le, or may nat 
goodly be parfourned or kept. / 2420 

§ 26. And take this for a general 
reule, that every conseil that is 
affermed so strongly that it may 
nat be chaunged, for no condicioun 
that may bityde, I seye that thilke 
conseil is wikked.' / 

§ 27. This Melibeus, whanne he 
hadde herd the doctrine of his wyf 
dame Prudence, answerde in this 
wyse. / ' Dame,' quod he, ' as 
yet in-to this tyme ye han wel and 
covenably taught me as in general, 
how I shal governe me in the 
chesinge and in the withholdinge 
of my conseillours. / But now 
wuldc I fayn that ye wolde conde- 



2424-2455-]- 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



lOI 



¥ 



scende in especial, / and telle me 
how lyketh yow, or what semeth 
yow, by our conseillours that we 

2425 han chosen in our present nede,' / 
§ 28. * My lord,' quod she, ' I 
biseke yow in al humbiesse, that 
ye wol nat wilfully replye agayn 
my resouns, ne destempre your 
herte thogh I speke thing that 
yow displese. / For god wot that, 
as in myn entente, I speke it for 
your beste, for your honour and 
for your profite eke. / And soothly, 
I hope that your benignitee wol 
taken it in pacience. / Trusteth 
me wel,' quod she, * that your con- 
seil as in this caas ne sholde nat, 
as to speke properly, be called a 
conseilling, but a mocioun or a 
moevyng of folye; / in which con- 
seil ye han erred in many a sondry 

2430 wyse./ 

§ 29. First and forward, ye han 
erred in thasseniblinge of your con- 
seillours. / For ye sholde first 
have cleped a fewe folk to your 
conseil, and after ye mighte han 
shewed it to mo folk, if it hadde 
been nede. / But certes, ye han 
sodeynly cleped to your conseil a 
greet multitude of peple, ful charge- 
ant and ful anoyous for to here. / 
Also ye han erred, for there-as ye 
sholden only have cleped to your 
conseil your trewe freendes olde 
and wyse, / ye han y-cleped 
straunge folk, and yong folk, false 
fiatereres, and enemys recon- 
siled, and folk that doon yow 

2435 reverence with-outen love. / And 
eek also ye have erred, for ye han 
broght with yow to your conseil 
ire, covetise, and hastifnesse; / 
the whiche three thinges been con- 
trariouse to every conseil honeste 
and profitable; / the whiche three 
thinges ye han nat anientissed or de- 
stroyed hem, neither in your-self ne 
in your conseillours, as yow oghte. / 
Ye han erred also, for ye han shewed 
to your conseillours your talent, 
and your affeccioun to make werre 
anon and for to do vengeance;/ 



they han espyed by your wordes to 
what thing ye been enclyned. / 2440 
And therfore han they rather con- 
seilled yow to your talent than to 
your profit. / Ye han erred also, 
for it semeth that yow suffyseth to 
han been conseilled by thise con- 
seillours only, and with litel avys; / 
wher-as, in so greet and so heigh a 
nede, it hadde been necessarie mo 
conseillours, and more deliberacioun 
to parfourne your emprise. / Ye 
han erred also, for ye han nat ex- 
amined your conseil in the forseyde 
manere, ne in due manere as the 
caas requireth. / Ye han erred 
also, for ye han maked no divisioun 
bitwixe your conseillours; this is to 
seyn, bitwixen your trewe freendes 
and your feyned conseillours; / ne 2445 
ye han nat knowe the wil of your 
trewe freendes olde and wyse; / 
but ye han cast alle hir wordes in 
an hochepot, and enclyned your 
herte to the more part and to the 
gretter nombre; and ther been ye 
condescended. / And sith ye wot 
wel that men shal alvvey finde a 
gretter nombre of foles than of 
wyse men, / and therfore the con- 
seils that been at congregaciouns 
and multitudes of folk, ther-as men 
take more reward to the nombre 
than to the sapience of persones, / 
ye see wel that in swiche conseil- 
linges foles han the maistrie,' / 2450 
Melibeus answerde agayn, and 
seyde : ' I graunte wel that I have 
erred; / but ther-as thou hast told 
me heer-biforn, that he nis nat to 
blame that chaungeth hise conseil- 
lours in certein caas, and for cer- 
teine luste causes, / I am al redy 
to chaunge my conseillours, right 
as thow wolt devyse. / The pro- 
verbe seith : that " for to do sinne 
is mannish, but certes for to perse- 
vere longe in sinne is werk of the 
devel." ' / 

§ 30. To this sentence answerde 
anon dame Prudence, and seyde: / 2455 
' Examineth,' quod she, ' your con- 
seil, and lat us see the wiiiche of 



I02 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2456-2493. 



hem han spoken most resonably, 
and taught yow l)est conseil. / Ami 
for-as-muche as that the examina- 
cioun is necessaiie, lat us l)iG;inne at 
the surgiens and at tlie phisiciens, 
that first spcken in this matere. / 
1 sey yow, that the surgiens and 
phisiciens han seyd yow in your 
conseil discreetly, as hem oughte; / 
and in hir speche seydcn ful wysly, 
that to the office of hem aperteneth 
to dot)n to every wigiit honour and 
protit, and no wight for to anoye; / 
and, after hir craft, to doon greet 
diligence un-to the cure of hem 
whiche that they han in hir govern- 

2460 aunce. / And sir, right as they han 
answered wysly and discreetly, / 
right so rede 1 that tiiey been 
heighly and sovereynly guerdonetl 
for hir noble speche; / and eek for 
they sholde do the more ententif 
bisinesse in the curacioun of your 
doghter dere. / For al-be-it so 
that they been your freendes, tiicr- 
fore shal ye nat suffren that they 
serve yow for noght ; / but ye oghte 
the rather guerdone hem and shewe 

2465 hem your largesse. / And as touch- 
inge the proposicioun which that 
the phisiciens entreteden in this 
caas, this is to seyn, / that, in niala- 
dyes, that oon contrarie iswarisshed 
by another contrarie, / I woldc 
fayn knowe how ye understonde 
thilke text, and what is your sen- 
tence.' / * Ccrtes,' quod Melii)eus, 
'I understonde it in this wyse:/ 
that, right as they han doon me a 
contrarie, right so sholde I doon 

2470 ]\em another. / For right as they 
han venged hem on me and doon 
me wrong, right so shal I venge me 
upon hem and doon hem wrong; / 
and thanne have I cured oon con- 
trarie by another.' / 

§ 31. ' Eo, lo ! ' quod dame Pru- 
dence, 'how lightly is every man 
enclyned to his owene desyr and to 
his owene plesaunce ! / Certes,' 
quod she, ' the wordes of the phisi- 
ciens ne sholde nat han been under- 
stonden in this wyse. / For certes, 



wikkednesse is nat contrarie to wik- 
kednesse, ne vengeaunce to ven- 
geaunce, ne wrong to wrong; but 
they been semblable. / And ther- 2 
fore, o vengeaunce is nat warisshed 
by another vengeaunce, ne o wrong 
by another wrong; / but everich 
of hem encreesceth and aggreggeth 
other. / liut certes, the wordes of 
the ]-)hisiciens sholde been under- 
stonden in this wyse:/ for good 
and wikkednesse been two contra- 
ries, and pees and werrc, venge- 
aunce and suffraunce, discord and 
accord, and manye othere thinges./ 
lUit certes, wikkednesse shal be war- 
isslied by goodnesse, discord by ac- 
cord, werre by pees, and so forth of 
othere thinges. / And heer-to ac- 248( 
cordeth vSeint I'aul the apostle in 
manye places./ lie seith : " ne 
yeldeth nat harm for harm, ne wik- 
ked speche for vvikked speche; / 
but do wel to him that dooth thee 
harm, and blesse him that seith to 
thee harm." / And in manye oth- 
ere places he amonesteth pees and 
accord. / But now wol 1 speke to 
yow of the conseil which that was 
yeven to yow by the men of lawe 
and the wyse folk, / that seyd en 2485 
alle by oon accord as ye han herd 
bifore; / that, over alle thynges, ye 
sholde doon your diligence to kepen 
your persone and to warnestore 
your hous. / And seyden also, that 
in this caas ye oghten for to werken 
ful avyscly and with greet delibera- 
cioun. / And sir, as to the firste 
point, that toucheth to the keping 
of your persone; / ye shul under- 
stonde that he that hath werre shal 
evermore mckely and devoutly 
]")reyen biforn alle thinges, / that 249a 
lesus Crist of his grete mercy wol 
han him in his proteccioun, and 
been his sovereyn helping at his 
nede. / For certes, in this world 
ther is no wight tliat may be con- 
seilled ne kejit suffisantly withouten 
tlie keping of our lord lesu Crist. / 
To this sentence accordeth the 
prophete David, that seith:/ "if 



2494-2525-] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



103 



god ne kepe the citee, in ydel wak- 
eth he that it kepeth." / Now sir, 
thanne shul ye committe the keping 
of your persone to your trewe 
freendes that been approved and 

2495 y-kno\ve; / and of hem shul ye 
axen help your persone fur to kepe. 
For Catoun seith : " if thou hast 
nede of help, axe it of thy freendes;/ 
for tlier nis noon so good a phisi- 
cien as thy trewe freend." / And 
after this, thanne shul ye kepe yow 
fro alle straunge folk, and fro lyeres, 
and have alwey in suspeet hir com- 
panye, / For Piers Alfonce seith : 
" nc tak no companye by the weye 
of a straunge man, but-if so be that 
thou have knowe him of a lenger 
tyme. / And if so be that he falle 
in-to thy companye paraventure 

2500 vvithouten thyn assent, / enquere 
thanne, as suljtilly as thou mayst, of 
his conversaeioun and of his lyf bi- 
fore, and feyne thy wey; seye that 
thou goost thider as thou wolt nat 
go; / and if he bereth aspere, hold 
thee on the right syde, and if he 
here a swerd, hold thee on the lift 
syde." / And after this, thanne 
shul ye kepe yow wysely from alle 
svvich manere peple as I have seyd 
bifore, and hem and hir conseil es- 
chewe. / And after this, thanne 
shul ye kepe yow in svvich manere,/ 
that for any prcsumpcioun of your 
strengthe, that ye ne dispyse nat ne 
acounte nat the might of your ad- 
versarie so litel, that ye lete the 
keping of your persone for your 

2505 prcsumpcioun;/ for every wys man 
drcdeth his enemy, / And Salo- 
mon seith : " wcleful is he that of 
alle hath drede; / for certes, he 
that thurgh the hardinesse of his 
herte and thurgh the hardinesse of 
him-sclf hath to greet prcsumpcioun, 
him shal yvel bityde." / Thanne 
shul ye evermore countrcwayte em- 
busshements and alle espiaille, / 
For Senek seith : that " the wyse 
man that drcdeth harmcs cscheweth 
harmcs; / ne he ne fallcth in-to per- 

2510 ils, that perils escheweth." / Andal- 



be-it so that it seme that thou art in 
siker place, yet shallow alwey do thy 
diligence in kepinge of thy per- 
sone ; / this is to seyn, ne be nat nec- 
ligent to kepe thy persone, nat only 
fro thy gretteste encmys but fro thy 
leeste enemy, / Scnck seith : " a 
man that is wel avysed, he dredeth 
his Icste enemy." / Ovide seith : 
that " the litel wesclc wol slee the 
grete bole and the wilde hcrt." / 2515 
And the book seith : " a litel thorn 
may prikke a greet king ful sore; 
and an hound wol holde the wilde 
boor." / But nathelecs, I sey nat 
thou shalt be so coward that thou 
doute ther wher-as is no drede. / 
The book seith : that " sommc folk 
han greet lust to deceyve, but yet 
they dreden hem to be deceyved,"/ 
Yet shaltou drede to been empois- 
oned, and kepe yow from the com- 
panye of scorneres, / For the book 
seith : " with scorneres make no 
companye, but flee hir wordes as 
venim." / 2520 

§ 32. Now as to the seconde 
point, wher-as your wyse conseil- 
lours conseilled yow to warnestore 
your hous with gret diligence, / I 
wolde fayn knowe, how that ye 
undcrstonde thilke wordes, and 
what is your sentence,'/ 

§ 33. Melibcus aiiswerde and 
seyde, ' Certes I undcrstande it in 
this wise; that I shal warnestore 
myn hous with toures, swiche as 
han castelles and othere manere 
edifices, and armure and artel- 
leries, / by whiche thinges I may 
my persone and myn hous so kepen 
and defenden, that myne enemys 
shul been in drede myn hous for to 
approche.'/ 

§ 34, To this sentence answerde 
anon Prudence; ' warnestoring,' 
quod she, * of heighe toures and 
of grete edifices apperteneth som- 
tyme to pryde; / and eek men 2525 
make heighe toures and grete edi- 
fices with grete costages and with 
greet travaille; and whan that they 
been accompliced, yet be they nat 



I04 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2526-2562. 



worth a strec, but-if they l^e de- 
fended by trewe freendes that l:>een 
olde and wysc. / And understond 
wel, that the gretteste and strong- 
este garnison that a riche man may 
have, as wel to kepen his persone 
as hise goodes, is / that he be 
biloved amonges his subgets and 
with hise neighebores. / For thus 
seith TulUus : that " ther is a maner 
garnison that no man may ven- 
quisse ne (Hsconfite, and that is, / 
a lord to be biloved of hise cite- 

2530 zeins and of his peple." / 

§ 35. Now sir, as to the thridde 
point; whcr-as your olde and wise 
conseillours seyden, that yovv ne 
oghte nat sodeynly ne hastily pro- 
ceden in this nede, / but that yow 
oghte purveyen and apparaillen 
yow in this caas with greet dili- 
gence and greet deliberacioun; / 
trewely, I trowe that they seyden 
right wysly and right sooth. / For 
Tullius seith, " in every nede, er 
thou biginne it, apparaille thee 
with greet diligence." / Thanne 
seye I, that in vengeance-taking, 
in werre, in bataille, and in warnes- 

2535 toring, / er thow biginne, I rede 
that thou apparaille thee ther-to, 
and do it with greet deliberacioun. / 
P'or Tullius seith: that "long ap- 
parailling biforn the bataille maketh 
short victorie." / And Cassidorus 
seith : " the garnison is stronger 
whan it is longe tyme avysed." / 

§ 36. But now lat us spekeu of 
the conseil that was accorded by 
your neighebores, swiche as doon 
yow reverence withouten love, / 
your olde enemys reconsiled, your 

2540 flatereres / that conseilled yow cer- 
teyne thingcs prively, and openly 
conseilleden yovv the contrarie; / 
the yonge folk also, that conseille- 
den yow to venge yow and make 
werre anon. / And certes, sir., as 
I have seyd biforn, ye han greetly 
erred to han cleped swich maner 
folk to your conseil; / which con- 
seillours been y-nogh rej)reve(l by 
the rcsouns alore-seyd. But na- 



thelees, lat us now descende to the 
special. Ye shuln first procede 
after the doctrine of Tullius. / 2545 
Certes, the trouthe of this matere 
or of this conseil nedeth nat dili- 
gently enquere; / for it is wel wist 
whiche they been that han doon to 
yow this trespas and vileinye, / 
and how manye trespassours, and 
in what manere they han to yow 
doon al this wrong and al this 
vileinye. / And after this, thanne 
shul ye examine the seconde con- 
dicioun, which that the same Tul- 
lius addeth in this matere. / For 
Tullius put a thing, which that he 
clepeth " consentinge," this is to 
seyn; /who been they and how 2550 
manye, and whiche been they, that 
consenteden to thy conseil, in thy 
wilfulnesse to doon hastif ven- 
geance. / And lat us considere 
also who been they, and how 
manye been they, and whiche been 
they, that consenteden to your 
adversaries. / And certes, as to 
the firste pt)ynt, it is wel knowen 
whiche folk been they that con- 
senteden to your hastif wilful- 
nesse; / for trewely, alle tho that 
conseilleden yow to maken sodeyn 
werre ne been nat your freendes. / 
Fat us now considere whiche been 
they, that ye holde so greetly your 
freendes as to your persone. / For 2555 
al-be-it so that ye be mighty and 
riche, certes ye ne been nat but 
allone. / For certes, ye ne han no 
child but a doghter; / ne ye ne 
han bretheren ne cosins germayns, 
ne noon other neigh kinrede, / 
wherfore that your enemys, for 
drede, sholde stinte to plede with 
yow or to destroye your persone. / 
Ye knowen also, that your richesses 
moten been dispended in diverse 
parties; / and whan that every 2560 
wight hath his part, they ne woUen 
taken but litel reward to venge thy 
decth. / But thyne enemys been 
three, and they han manie children, 
bretheren, cosins, and other ny 
kinrede; / and, though so were 



2563-2598.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



105 



that thou hacklest slayn of hem two 
or three, yet dwellen ther y-novve 
to vvreken hir deeth and to slee thy 
persone. / And though so be that 
your kinrede be more siker and 
stedefast than the kin of your 
adversarie, / yet nathclees your 
kinrede nis but a fer kinrede; they 

2565 been but htel sib to yow, / and the 
kin of your enemys been ny sib to 
hem. And certes, as in that, hir 
condicioun is bet than youres. / 
Thanne lat us considere also if the 
conseilling of hem that conseilleden 
yow to taken sodeyn vengeaunee, 
whether it accorde to resoun?/ 
And certes, ye knowe vvel " nay." / 
For as by right and resoun, ther 
may no man taken vengeance on 
no wight, but the luge that hath 
the lurisdiccioun of it, / whan it 
is graunted him to take thilke ven- 
geance, hastily or attemprcly, as 

2570 the lawe requireth. / And yet 
more-over, of thilke word that 
Tullius clepeth " consentinge," / 
thou shalt considere if thy might 
and thy power may consenten and 
suffyse to thy wilfulnesse and to 
thy conseillours. / And certes, 
thou mayst wel seyn that " nay." / 
For sikerly, as for to speke proprely, 
we may do no-thing but only swich 
thing as we may doon rightfully. / 
And certes, rightfully ne mowe ye 
take no vengeance as of your pro- 

2575 pre auctorilee. / Thanne mowe ye 
seen, that your power ne consenteth 
nat ne accordeth nat with your wil- 
fulnesse. / Lat us now examine 
the thridde point that Tullius 
clepeth " consequent." / Thou 
shalt understonde that the ven- 
geance that thou purposest for to 
take is the consequent. / And 
ther-of folweth another vengeaunee, 
peril, and wcrre; and othere dam- 
ages with-oute nombre, of whiche 
we be nat war as at this tynie. / 
And as touchinge the fourthe point, 
that Tullius clcpctli " engend- 

2580 ringe," / tliou shalt consitlere, that 
this wrong which that is doon to 



thee is engendred of the hate of 
thyne enemys; / and of the ven- 
geance-takinge upon that wolde 
engendre another vengeance, and 
muchel sorwe and wastinge of 
richesses, as I scyde. / 

§ 37. Now sir, as to the point 
that Tullius clepeth " causes," which 
that is the laste point, / thou shalt 
understonde that the wrong that 
thou hast receyved hath certeine 
causes, / whiche that clerkes cle- 
pen Oriens and Ffficiens, and 
Causa longinqita and Causa pro- 
pinqiia ; this is to seyn, the fer 
cause and the ny cause. / The fer 25<S5 
cause is almighty god, that is cause 
of alle thinges, / The neer cause is 
thy three enemys. / The cause 
accidental was hate. / The cause 
material been the fyve woundes of 
thy doghter. / The cause formal 
is the manere of hir werkinge, that 
broghten laddres and cloumben in 
at thy windowes. / The cause final 2590 
was for to slee thy doghter ; it letted 
nat in as muche as in hem was. / 
But for to speken of the fer cause, 
as to what ende they shul come, or 
what shal finally bityde of hem in 
this caas, ne can I nat deme but by 
coniectinge and i)y supposinge. / 
P'or we shul suppose that they shul 
come to a wikked ende, / by-cause 
that the Book of Decrees scith : 
*' selden or with greet peyne been 
causes y-broght to good ende 
whanne they been baddely bi- 
gonne." / 

§ 38. Now sir, if men wolde axe 
me, why that god suffred men to do 
yow this vileinye, certes, I can nat 
wel answere as for no sothfast- 
nesse. / For thapostle seith, that 2595 
" the sciences and the luggementz 
of our lord god almighty been ful 
depe ; / ther may no man com- 
prehende ne serchen hem suffi- 
santly." / Nathelees, by certeyne 
presumpcions and coniectinges, I 
holde and bileve / that god, 
which that is ful of Justice and 
of rightwisnesse, hath suffred 



io6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2599-2634. 



this bityde by luste cause reson- 
able. / 

§ 39. Thy name is Mehbee, this 
'o to seyn, " a man that drinketh 

2600 hony." / Thou hast y-dronke so 
muchel hony of swete temporel 
richesses and dehces and honours 
of this world, / that thou art 
dronken ; and hast forgeten lesu 
Crist thy creatour ; / thou ne hast 
nat doon to him swich honour and 
reverence as thee oughte. / Ne 
thou ne hast nat wel y-taken kepe 
to the wordes of Ovide, that seith : / 
" under the hony of the godes of 
the body is hid the venim that sleeth 

2605 the soule." / And Salomon seith, 
"if thou hast founden hony, ete of 
it that suffyseth ; / for if thou ete 
of it out of mesure, thou shalt 
spewe," and be nedy and povre. / 
And peraventure Crist hath thee in 
despit, and hath turned awey fro 
thee his face and hise eres of mise- 
ricorde ; / and also he hath suffred 
that thou hast been punisshed in 
the manere that thow hast y-tres- 
passed. / Thou hast doon sinne 

2610 agayn our lord Crist ; / for certes, 
the three enemys of mankinde, that 
is to seyn, the flessh, the feend, and 
the world, / thou hast suffred hem 
entre in-to thyn herte wilfully by 
the windowes of thy body, / and 
hast nat defended thy-self suffisantly 
agayns hir assautes and hir temp- 
taciouns, so that they han wounded 
thy soule in fyve places ; / this is 
to seyn, the deedly sinnes that been 
entred in-to thyn herte by thy fyve 
wittes. / And in the same manere 
our lord Crist hath wold and suffred, 
that thy three enemys been entred 

2615 in-to thyn hous by the windowes, / 
and han y-wounded thy doghter in 
the fore-seyde manere.' / 

§ 40. ' Certes,' quod Melibee, * I 
see wel that ye enforce yow muchel 
by wordes to overcome me in swich 
manere, that I shal nat venge me of 
myne enemys ; / shewinge me the 
perils and the yvels that mighten 
falle of this vengeance. / But 



who-so wolde considere in alle 
vengeances the perils and yveles 
that mighte sewe of vengeance- 
takinge, / a man wolde never take 
vengeance, and that were harm ; / 2620 
for by the vengeance-takinge been 
the wikked men dissevered fro the 
gode men. / And they that han 
wil to do wikkednesse restreyne 
hir wikked purpos, whan they seen 
the punissinge and chastysinge of 
the trespassours.' / [And to this 
answerde dame Prudence : ' Certes,' 
seyde she, ' I graunte wel that of 
vengeaunce cometh muchel yvel 
and muchel good ; / but ven- 
geaunce-taking aperteneth nat unto 
everichoon, but only unto luges and 
unto hem that han lurisdiccioun 
upon the trespassours.] / And yet 
seye I more, that right as a singuler 
persone sinneth in takinge ven- 
geance of another man, / right so 2625 
sinneth the luge if he do no ven- 
geance of hem that it han deserved. / 
For Senek seith thus : "that mais- 
ter," he seith, "is good that prov- 
eth shrewes." / And as Cassi- 
dore seith : "A man dredeth to 
do outrages, whan he woot and 
knoweth that it displeseth to the 
luges and sovereyns." / And 
another seith: "the luge that 
dredeth to do right, maketh men 
shrewes." / And Seint Paule the 
apostle seith in his epistle, whan he 
wryteth un-to the Romayns : that 
" the luges beren nat the spere 
with-outen cause ; " / but they 2630 
beren it to punisse the shrewes and 
misdoeres, and for to defende the 
gode men. / If ye wol thanne 
take vengeance of your enemys, ye 
shul retourne or have your recours 
to the luge that hath the lurisdic- 
cion up-on hem ; / and he shal 
punisse hem as the lawe axeth and 
requyreth.' / 

§41. 'A!' quod Melibee, 'this 
vengeance lyketh me no-thing. / 
I bithenke me now and take hede, 
how fortune hnth norissed me fro 
my child hede, and hath holpen me 



2635-2671.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



107 



2635 to passe many a strong pas. / 
Now wol I assayen hir, trowinge, 
with goddes help, that she shal 
helpe me my shame for to venge.' / 
§ 42. ' Certes,' quod Prudence, 
* if ye wol werke by my conseil, ye 
shul nat assaye fortune by no wey; / 
ne ye shul nat lene or bowe unto 
hir, after the word of Senek : / for 
" thinges that been folily doon, and 
that been in hope of fortune, shullen 
never come to good ende." / And 
as the same Senek seith : " the 
more cleer and the more shyning 
that fortune is, the more brotil and 

2640 the sonner broken she is." / Trust- 
eth nat in hir, for she nis nat stide- 
fast ne stable; / for whan thow 
trowest to be most seur or siker of 
hir help, she wol faille thee and 
deceyve thee. / And wher-as ye 
seyn that fortune hath norissed yow 
fro your childhede, / I seye, that in 
so muchel shul ye the lasse truste in 
hir and in hir wit. / For Senek 
seith: "what man that is norissed 
by fortune, she makcth him a greet 

2645 fool." / Now thanne, sin ye desyre 
and axe vengeance, and the ven- 
geance that is doon after the lawe 
and bifore the luge ne lyketh yow 
nat, / and the vengeance that is 
doon in hope of fortune is perilous 
and uncertein, / thanne have ye 
noon other remedie but for to have 
your recours unto the sovereyn luge 
that vengeth alle vileinyes and 
wronges; / and he shal venge yow 
after that him-self witnesseth, wher- 
as he seith : / *' leveth the ven- 

2650 geance to me, and I shal do it." ' / 
§ 43. Melibee answerde, 'if I ne 
venge me nat of the vileinye that 
men han doon to me, / I sompne 
or warne hem that han doon to me 
that vileinye and alle othere, to do 
me another vileinye. / For it is 
writen : "if thou take no ven- 
geance of an old vileinye, thou 
sompnest thyne adversaries to do 
thee a newe vileinye."'/ And also, 
for my suffrance, men wolden do to 
me so muchel vileinye, that I mighte 



neither here it ne sustene; / and so 
sholde I been put and holden over 
lowe. / For men seyn : " in 2655 
muchel suffringe shul manye thinges 
falle un-to thee whiche thou shalt 
nat mowe suffre." ' / 

§ 44. ' Certes,' quod Prudence, 
' I graunte yow that over muchel 
suffraunce nis nat good; / but yet 
ne fohveth it nat ther-of, that every 
persone to whom men doon vileinye 
take of it vengeance; / for that 
aperteneth and longeth al only to 
the luges, for they shul venge the 
vileinyes and iniuries. / And ther- 
fore tho two auctoritees that ye han 
seyd above, been only understonden 
in the luges; / for whan they suf- 2660 
fren over muchel the wronges and 
the vileinyes to be doon withouten 
punisshinge, / they sompne nat a 
man al only for to do newe wronges, 
but they comanden it. / Also a 
wys man seith : that " the luge that 
correcteth nat the sinnere comand- 
eth and biddeth him do sinne." / 
And the luges and sovereyns 
mighten in hir land so muchel suffre 
of the shrewes and misdoeres, / 
that they sholden by swich suffrance, 
by proces of tyme, wexen of swich 
power and might, that they sholden 
putte out the luges and the sover- 
eyns from hir places, / and atte 2665 
laste maken hem lesen hir lord- 
shipes. / 

§ 45. But lat us now putte, that 
ye have leve to venge yow. / I 
seye ye been nat of might and 
power as now to venge yow. / For 
if ye wole maken comparisoun un- 
to the might of your adversaries, ye 
shul finde in manye thinges, that I 
have shewed yow er this, that hir 
condicioun is bettre than youres. / 
And therfore seye I, that it is good 
as now that ye suffre and be pa- 
cient. / 2670 

§ 46, Forther-more, ye knowen 
wel that, after the comune sawe, " it 
is a woodnesse a man to stryve with 
a strenger or a more mighty man 
than he is him-self; / and for 



loS 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2672-2707. 



to stryve with a man of evene 
strengthe, that is to seyn, with as 
strong a man as he, it is peril; / 
and for to stryve witli a weyker 
man, it is folic." / And therfore 
sholde a man flee stryvinge as 
muchel as he mighte. / For Salo- 
mon seith : " it is a greet worship 
to a man to kepen him fro noyse 

2675 ^"tl stryf." / And if it so bifalle 
or happe that a man of gretter 
might and strengthe than thou art 
do thee grevaunce, / studie and 
bisie thee rather to stille the same 
grevaunce, than for to venge 
thee. / For Senek seith : that 
" he putteth him in greet peril that 
stryveth with a gretter man than he 
is him-self." / And Catoun seith : 
" if a man of hyer estaat or degree, 
or more mighty than thou, do thee 
anoy or grevaunce, suffre him ; / 
for he that ones hnth greved thee 
may another tyme releve thee and 

26S0 helpe." / Yet sette I caas, ye have 
bothe might and licence for to 
venge vow. / I seye, that ther be 
ful manye thinges that shul restreyne 
yow of vengeance-takinge, / and 
make yow for to enclyne to sufire, 
and for to h.an pacience in the 
thinges that han been doon to 
yow. / First and foreward, if ye 
wole considere the defautes that 
been in your owene person, / for 
whiche defautes god hath suftVed 
yow have this tribulacioun, as I have 

26S5 seyd yow heer-biforn. / For the 
poete seith, that " we oghte pa- 
ciently taken the trihulacions that 
comen to us, whan we thinken and 
consideren that we han deserved to 
have hem." / And Seint Gregorie 
seith: that " whan a man consider- 
eth wel the nombre of hise defautes 
and of his sinnes, / the peynes and 
the tribulaciouns that he suffreth 
semen the lesse un-to hym; / and 
in-as-muche as him thinketh hise 
sinnes more hevy and grevous, / in- 
so-muche semeth his peyne the 

2690 lighter and the esier un-to him." / 
Also ye owen to enclyne and bowe 



your herte to take the pacience of 
our lord lesu Crist, as seith seint 
Peter in hise epistles : / " lesu 
Crist," he seith, " hath suffred for 
us, and yeven ensample to every 
man to folwe and sewe him; / for 
he dide never sinne, ne never cam 
ther a vileinous word out of his 
mouth : / whan men cursed him, 
he cursed hem noght; and whan 
men betten him, he manaced hem 
noght.'' / Also the grete pacience, 
which the seintes that been in para- 
dys han had in tribulaciouns that 
they han y-suffred, with-outen hir 
desert or gilt, / oghte muchel stiren 2695 
yow to pacience. / Forthermore, 
ye sholde enforce yow to have 
pacience, / consideringe that the 
tribulaciouns of this world but litel 
whyle endure, and sone passed been 
and goon. / And the loye that a 
man seketh to have by pacience in 
tribulaciouns is perdurable, after 
that the apostle seith in his epistle : / 
" the loye of god," he seith, " is 
perdurable," that is to seyn, ever- 
lastinge. / Also troweth and bi- 2700 
leveth stedefastly, that he nis nat 
wel y-norissed ne wel y-taught, that 
can nat have pacience or wol nat 
receyve pacience. / For Salomon 
seith : that " the doctrine and the 
wit of a man is knowen by pa- 
cience." / And in another place 
he seith : that '* he that is pacient 
governeth him by greet prudence." / 
And the same Salomon seith : " the 
angry and wrathful man maketh 
noyses, and the pacient man atem- 
preth hem and stilleth." / He 
seith also : " it is more worth to be 
pacient than for to be right strong; / 2705 
and he that may have the lordshipe 
of his owene herte is more to 
preyse, than he that by his force or 
strengthe taketh grete citees." / 
And therfore seith seint lame in 
his epistle: that "pacience is a 
greet vertu of perfeccioun." ' / 

§ 47. ' Certes,' quod Melibee, * I 
graunte yow, dame Prudence, that 
pacience is a greet vertu of perfec- 



2708-2744-] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



[09 



cioun; / but every man may nat 
have the perfeccioun that ye seken ; / 
ne I nam nat of the nombre of right 

2710 parfite men, / for myn herte may 
never been in pees un-to the tyme 
it be venged. / And al-be-it so 
that it was greet peril to niyne ene- 
mys, to do me a vileinye in takinge 
vengeance up-on me, / yet token 
they noon hede of the peril, but ful- 
filleden hir wikked wil and hir cor- 
age. / And therfore, me thinketh 
men oghten nat repreve me, though 
I putte me in a litel peiil for to venge 
me, / and though I do a greet ex- 
cesse, that is to seyn, that I venge 

2715 con outrage by another.' / 

§ 48. ' A ! ' quod dame Prudence, 
* ye seyn your wil and as yow lyk- 
eth; / but in no caas of the world 
a man sholde nat doon outrage ne 
excesse for to vengen him. / For 
Cassidore seith : that " as yvel doth 
he that vengeth him by outrage, as 
he that doth the outrage." / And 
therfore ye shul venge yow after the 
ordre of right, that is to seyn by the 
lawe, and noght by excesse ne by 
outrage. / And also, if ye wol 
venge yow of the outrage of your 
adversaries in other maner than 

2720 right comandeth, ye sinnen; / and 
therfore seith Senek : that *' a man 
shal never vengen shrewednesse by 
shrewednesse." / And if ye seye, 
that right axeth a man to defenden 
violence by violence, and fighting 
by fighting, / certes ye seye sooth, 
whan the defense is doon anon with- 
outen intervalle or with-outen tary- 
ing or delay, / for to defenden him 
and nat for to vengen him, / And 
it bihoveth that a man putte swich 

2725 attemperance in his defence, / that 
men have no cause ne matere to 
repreven him that defendeth him 
of excesse and outrage; for elles 
were it agayn resoun. / Pardee, 
ye knowen wel, that ye maken no 
defence as now for to defende yow, 
but for to venge yow; / and so 
seweth it that ye ban no wil to do 
your dede attemprely. / And ther- 



fore, me thinketh that pacience is 
good. For Salomon seith : that 
" he that is nat pacient shal have 
greet harm.'" / 

§ 49. ' Certes,' quod Melibee, * I 
graunte yow, that whan a man is 
impacient and wroth, of that that 
toucheth him noght and that aper- 
teneth nat un-to him, though it 
harme him, it is no wonder. / For 2730 
the lawe seith : that " he is coupa- 
ble that entremetteth or medleth 
with swich thyng as aperteneth nat 
un-to him." / And .Salomon seith : 
that " he that entremetteth him of 
the noyse or stryf of another man, 
is lyk to him that taketh an hound 
by the eres." / For right as he 
that taketh a straunge hound by 
the eres is outheruhyle biten with 
the hound, / right in the same wyse 
is it resoun that he have harm, that 
by his inpacience medleth him of 
the noyse cf another man, wher-as 
it aperteneth nat un-to him. / But 
ye knowen wel that this dede, that 
is to seyn, my grief and my disese, 
toucheth me right ny. / And ther- 2735 
fore, though I be wroth and inpa- 
cient, it is no merveille. / And 
savinge your grace, 1 can nat seen 
that it mighte greetly harme me 
though I toke vengeaunce; / for I 
am richer and more mighty than 
myne enemys been. / And wel 
knowen ye, that by moneye and by 
havinge grete possessions been all 
the thingesof this world governed. / 
And Salomon seith : that " alle thinges 
obeyen to moneye." ' / 2740 

§50. Whan Prudence haddeherde 
hir housbonde avanten him of his 
richesse and of his moneye, dis- 
preisinge the power of hise adversa- 
ries, she spak, and seyde in this 
wyse : / ' certes, dere sir, I graunte 
yow that ye been, rich and mighty, / 
and that the richesses been goode to 
hem that han wel y-geten hem and 
wel conne usen hem. / For right 
as the body of a man may nat liven 
with-oute the soule, namore may it 
live with-outen temporal goodes. / 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2745-2780. 



And l)y ricliesses may a man getc 

2745 him j^iclc frccndts, / And tlicr- 
foro scitli rampliillcs : "if a nct^ 
herdes duj^litcr," scith he, " be riche, 
she may chesen of a liiuusand men 
whieh slie wol take to liir hous- 
bonde; / for, of a thousand men, 0011 
wol nat forsaken liir ne refusen hir."/ 
And this Taniphilles seith also: "if 
thou i)e rij^ht happy, that is to seyn, 
if thou be ri^ht riehe, thou shalt find 
a j^reet nombre of felavves and 
freendes. / And if thy C^rtune 
change that thou wexe povre, fare- 
wel freendshipe and felaweshipc; / 
for thou shalt be allone witii-cnilLii 
any eompanye, but-if it l)e the com- 

2750 panye of povre folk." / And yet 
seith this ramphilles moreover: 
that " they that been thralle and 
bonde of linaj^e shullen \)c.cn nuaad 
wortiiy and noble by the ricli- 
esses." / And rij^iil so as by ricli- 
esses ther comen manye goodes, 
right so by poverte eome ther manye 
harmes and yveles. / For ^^rcct 
jioverte eonstreyneth a man to do 
manye yveles. / And therfore clej)- 
eth C'assidore poverte " the moiler 
of mine," / that is to seyn, the 
m<jdcr of ovcrtlirowinge or fallinjije 

2755 doun. / And therfore seith Tiers 
Alfonee : " oon of the gretleste ad- 
versitees of this world is / whan a 
free man, by kinde or by burlhe, is 
constreyned by poverte to eti'n the 
almesse of his enemy." / And the 
same seith Innoecnt in oon of hise 
bokes; he seith: that "sorweful 
and mishappy is the condicioun of 
a povre beKk'<-'i'; / f'>r if bt-' axe nat 
his mete, he dyeth for hunfj;er; / 
and if he axe, he dyeth for shame; 
and alf^ates neeessilee eonstreyneth 

27'jo him to axe." / And therfore seith 
Salomon: that "bet it is to dye 
than for to have swieh poverte." / 
And as the same Salomon seith : 
" bettre it is to dye of bitter deeth 
than for to liven in swieh wyse." / 
By thise resons that I have seid un- 
to yow, and by manye othere re- 
sons that I eoude seye, / 1 gruuiite 



yow that riche.sses been goode to hem 
that j^rilen hem wel, and to hem that 
wel usen tlio riehesses. / And 
therfore wol I she we yow how ye 
shul have yow, and how ye shul here 
yow in gaderinge of rieliesses, and 
in what manere ye shul usen hem./ 
§ 51. First, ye shul geten hem 
with-outen greet desyr, by good 
leyser sokingly, and nat over has- 
tily. / i'or a man that is to ch.'syr- 
inge to gete riche.sses abaundoneth 
him first to thefte and to alle other 
yveles. / And therfore seith Salo- 
mon : " he that hasteth him to bisily 
U) v\exe riche shal be noon inno- 
cent." / lie seith also : that " the 
riehesse that hastily cometh to a 
man, sone and ligl:tly gooth and 
passeth fr(j a man; / but that rieh- 
esse that Cometh litel and iitel wex- 
eth alwey and multiplyeth." / And 
sir, ye shul geten ricliesses by ybur 
wit and by your travaille un-to your 
profit; / and that with-outen wrong 
or harm-doinge to any other per- 
sone. / I'or the lawe seith : that 
"ther maketh no man himselven 
riche, if he do harm to another 
wight; " / this is to seyn, that 
nature defendeth and forbedeth by 
right, that no man make him-self 
ritdie un-to the harm of another per- 
SDiie. / And Tullius seith: that 
" no sorwe ne no drede of deeth, 
ne no-thing that may fallc un-to a 
man / is so niuchel agayns nature, 
as a man to encressen his owene 
]n-i)l\t to the harm of another man. / 
And though the grete men and the 
mighty men geten riehesses more 
lightly than thou, / yet shaltou nat 
been ydel ne slow to do thy profit; 
for thou shalt in alle wyse llee ydel- 
nesse." / I'or Salomon seith : that 
" ydelnesse techeth a man to do 
manye yveles." / And the same 
Salomon seith : that " he that tra- 
vailleth and l)isieth him to tilien his 
land, shal eten breed ; / but he that 
is ydel and easteth him to no bisi- 
nesse ne occupacioun, shal falle 
in-to poverte, and (Aye for hun- 



2705 



2770 



2775 



2780 



J 



278I-28I9.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



Ill 



ger." / And he that is ydel and 
slow can never linde covenable tyme 
for to doon his profit. / P'or ther 
is a versifiour seith : that " the ydel 
man excuseth hym in winter, by 
cause of the grete cold; and in 
somer, by enchesoun of the hete." / 
For thise causes seith Caton : " wak- 
eth and enclyneth nat yow over 
muchel for to slepe ; for over 
muchel reste norisseth and causeth 
manye vices." / And therfore seith 
seint lerome : " doth somme gode 
dedes, that the devel which is our 
enemy ne rtnde yow nat unoccu- 
2785 pied." / For the devel ne taketh 
nat lightly un-to his vverkinge swiche 
as he findeth occupied in gode 
werkes." / 

§ 52. Thanne thus, in getinge 
richesses, ye mosten flee ydel- 
nesse. / And afterward, ye shul 
use the richesses, whiche ye have 
geten by your wit and by your 
travaille, / in swich a manere, that 
men holde nat yow to scars, ne to 
sparinge, ne to fool-large, that is to 
seyn, over-large a spender. / For 
right as men blamen an avaricious 
man by-cause of his scarsetee and 
2790 chincherye, / in the same wyse is 
he to blame that spendeth over 
largely. / And ther-fore seith 
Caton: "use," he seith, "thy 
richesses that thou hast geten / in 
swich a manere, that men have no 
matere ne cause to calle thee 
neither wrecche ne chinche; /for 
it is a greet shame to a man to have 
a povere herte and a riche purs." / 
He seith also: "the goodes that 
thou hast y-geten, use hem by 
mcsure," that is to seyn, spende 
2795 hem mcsurably; /for they that 
folily wasten and dcspenden the 
goodes that they han, / whan they 
ban namore propre of hir owene, 
they shapen hem to take the goodes 
of another man. / I seye thanne, 
that ye shul fleen avarice; / usinge 
your richesses in swich manere, 
that men seye nat that your richesses 
been y-buried, / but that ye have 



hem in your might and in your 
wecldinge. / For a wys man re- 2800 
preveth the avaricious man, and 
seith thus, in two vers: / " wherto 
and why burieth a man hise goodes 
by his grete avarice, and knoweth 
wel that nedes moste he dye; / for 
deeth is the ende of every man as in 
this present lyf." / And for what 
cause or enchesoun loyneth he him 
or knittcth he him so faste un-to 
hise goodes, / that alle his wittes 
mowen nat disseveren him or de- 
parten him from hise goodes; / and 2805 
knoweth wel, or oghte knowe, that 
whan he is deed, he shal no-thing 
here with him out of this world. / 
And ther-fore seith seint Augustin : 
that " the avaricious man is likned 
un-to helle;/that the more it 
swelweth, the more desyr it hath 
to swelwe and devoure." / And 
as wel as ye wolde eschewe to 
be called an avaricious man or 
chinche, / as wel sholde ye kepe 
yow and ^overne yow in swich 
a wyse that men calle yow nat 
fool-large./ Therfore seith Tul- 2810 
lius : " the goodes," he seith, 
*' of thyn hous ne sholde nat been 
hid, ne kept so cloos but that they 
mighte been opened by pitee and 
debonairetee; " / that is to seyn, to 
yeven part to hem that han greet 
nede;/"ne thy goodes shuUen 
nat been so opene, to been every 
mannes goodes." / Afterward, in 
getinge of your richesses and in 
usinge hem, ye shul alwey have 
three thinges in your herte ; / that 
is to seyn, our lord god, conscience, 
and good name. / First, ye shul 2S15 
have god in your herte; /and for 
no richesse ye shuUen do no-thing, 
which may in any manere displese 
god, that is your creatour and 
maker. / For after the word of 
Salomon : " it is bettre to have a 
litel good witii the love of god, / 
than to have muchel good and 
trcsour, and Icsc the love of his lord 
god." / And the prophete seith : 
that " bettre it is to been a good 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2820-2S55. 



man and have litel good and tre- 

2820 sour, / than to been holden a 
shrewe and have grete richesse." / 
And yet seye I ferthermore, that ye 
sholde aUvey doon your bisinesse to 
gete yow richesses, / so that ye gete 
hem with good conscience. / And 
thapostle seith : that "ther nis 
thing in this world, of which we 
sholden have so greet loye as whan 
our conscience bereth us good 
. witnesse." / And the wyse man 
seith: " the substance of a man is 
ful good, whan sinne is nat in 

2S25 mannes conscience." / Afterward, 
in getinge of your richesses, and in 
usinge of hem, / yow moste have 
greet bisinesse and greet diU- 
gence, that your goode name be 
alwey kept and conserved. / For 
Salomon seith: that " bettre it is 
and more it availeth a man to have 
a good name, than for to have grete 
richesses." / And therfore he 
seith in another place : " do greet 
diligence," seith Salomon, " in kep- 
ing of thy freend and of thy gode 
name; / for it shal lenger abide 
with thee than any tresour, be it 

2830 never so precious." / And certes 
he sholde nat be called a gentil 
man, that after god and good con- 
science, alle thinges left, ne dooth 
h's dihgence and bisinesse to kepen 
his good name. / And Cassidore 
seith : that " it is signe of a gentil 
herte, whan a man loveth and 
desyreth to han a good name." / 
And therfore seith seint Augustin : 
that " ther been two thinges that 
am necessarie and nedefulle, / and 
that is good conscience and good 
loos; / that is to seyn, good con- 
science to thyn owene persone in- 
ward, and good loos for thy 

2835 neighebore outward." / And he 
that trusteth him so muchel in his 
gode conscience, / that he dis- 
pleseth and setteth at noght his 
gode name or loos, and rekketh 
noght though he kepe nat his gode 
name, nis but a cruel cherl. / 

§ 53. Sire, now have I shewed 



yow how ye shul do in getinge 
richesses, and how ye shuUen usen 
hem; /and I se wel, that for the 
trust that ye han in youre richesses, 
ye wole moeve werre and bataille. / 
I conseille yow, that ye biginne no 
werre in trust of your richesses; 
for they ne suffysen noght werres to 
mayntene. / And therfore seith a 2840 
philosophre : " that man that desy- 
reth and wole algates han werre, 
shal never have suffisaunce; / for 
the richer that he is, the gretter 
despenses moste he make, if he 
wole have worship and victorie." / 
And Salomon seith : that " the 
gretter richesses that a man hath, 
the mo despendours he hath." / 
And dere sire, al-be-it so that for 
your richesses ye mowe have muchel 
folk, / yet bihoveth it nat, ne it is 
nat good, to biginne werre, where- 
as ye mowe in other manere have 
pees, un-fo your worship and 
profit. / For the victories of bat- 2845 
ailles that been in this world, lyen 
nat in greet nombre or multitude of 
the peple ne in the vertu of man; / 
but it lyth in the wil and in the 
hand of our lord god almighty. / 
And therfore ludas Machaljeus, 
which was goddes knight, / whan 
he shokle fighte agayn his adver- 
sarie that hadde a greet nombre, 
and a gretter multitude of folk and 
strenger than was this peple of 
Machabee, / yet he reconforted his 
litel companye, and seyde right in 
this wyse : / " als lightly," quod he, 2850 
" may our lord god almighty yeve 
victorie to a fewe folk as to many 
folk ; / for the victorie of bataile 
Cometh nat by the grete nombre of 
peple, / but it Cometh from our lord 
god of hevene." / And dere sir, 
for as muchel as there is no man 
certein, if he be worthy that god 
yeve him victorie, [namore than he 
is certein whether he be worthy of 
the love of god] or naught, after 
that Salomon seith, / therfore every 
man sholde greetly drede werres to 
biginne. / And by-cause that in 2855 



2856-2895.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



batailles fallen nianye perils, / and 
happeth outher-while, that as sone 
is the grete man sleyn as the litel 
man; / and, as it is written in the 
seconde bookof Kinges, "the dedes 
of batailles been aventurouse and 
nothing certeyne; / for as lightly is 
oon hurt with a spere as another." / 
And for ther is gret peril in werre, 
therfore sholde a man flee and 
eschewe werre, in as muchel as a 

2S60 man may goodly. / For Salomon 
seith: "he that loveth peril shal 
falle in peril." ' / 

§ 54. After that Dame Prudence 
hadde spoken in this manere, Meli- 
bee answerde and seyde, / ' I see 
wel, dame Prudence, that by your 
faire wordes and by your resons 
that ye han shewed me, that the 
werre lyketh yow no-thing; / but 
I have nat yet herd your conseil, 
how I shal do in this nede.' / 

§ 55. 'Certes,' quod she, 'I con- 
seille yow that ye accorde with 
youre adversaries, and that ye haue 

2865 pees with hem. / For seint lame 
seith in hise epistles : that " by con- 
cord and pees the smale richesses 
wexen grete, / and by debaat and 
discord the grete richesses fallen 
doun." / And ye knowen wel that 
oon of the gretteste and most 
sovereyn thing, that is in this world, 
is unitee and pees. / And ther- 
fore seyde oure lord lesu Crist to 
hise apostles in this wyse : / " wel 
happy and blessed been they that 
loven and purchacen pees; for they 

2S70 been called children of god." ' / 
' A ! ' quod Melibee, ' now se I wel 
that ye loven nat myn honour ne 
my worshipe. / Ye' knowen wel 
that myne adversaries han bigonnen 
this debaat and brige by hir out- 
rage; / and ye see wel that they ne 
requeren ne preyen me nat of pees, 
ne they asken nat to be reconsiled. / 
Wol ye thanne that I go and meke 
me and obeye me to hem, and crye 
hem mercy ? / For sothe, that 

2S75 were nat my worship. / For right 
as men seyn, that " over-greet hom- 



linesse engendreth dispreysinge," 
so fareth it by to greet humylitee 
or mekenesse.' / ' 

§ 56. Thanne bigan dame Pru- 
dence to maken semblant of 
wratthe, and seyde, / 'certes, sir, 
sauf your grace, I love your honour 
and your profit as I do myn owene, 
and ever have doon ; / ne ye ne 
noon other syen never the' con- 
trarie. / And yit, if I hadde seyd ' 
that ye sholde han purchaced the 
pees and the reconsiliacioun, I ne 
hadde nat muchel mistaken me, ne 
seyd amis. / For the wyse man 2SS0 
seith : " the dissensioun biginneth 
by another man, and the reconsil- 
ing bi-ginneth by thy-self." / And 
the prophete seith : '" flee shrewed- 
nesse and do goodnesse; / seke 
pees and fohve it, as muchel as in 
thee is." / Yet seye I nat that ye 
shul rather pursue to your adver- 
saries for pees than they shuln to 
yow; / for I knowe wel that ye 
been so hard-herted, that ye wol do 
no-thing for me. / And' Salomon 2885 
seith : " he that hath over-hard an 
herte, atte laste he shal mishappe 
and mistyde." ' / 

§ 57. \Vhanne Melibee hadde 
herd dame Prudence maken sem- 
blant of wratthe, he seyde in this 
wyse, / ' dame, I prey yow that ye 
be nat displesed of thinges that I 
seye; / for ye knowe wel that I am 
angry and wrooth, and that is no 
wonder; / and they that been wrothe 
witen nat wel what they doon, ne 
what they seyn. / Th'erfore the 2S90 
prophete seith : that " troubled eyen 
han no cleer sighte." / But seyeth 
and conseileth me as yow lyketh; 
for I am redy to do right as ye wol 
desyre; /and if ye repreve me of 
my folye, I am the more holden to 
love yow and to preyse yow. / 
For Salom.on seith: that "he that 
repreveth him that doth folye, / 
he shal finde gretter grace than 
he that deceyveth him by swete 
wordes." ' / 2895 

§ 58. Thanne seide dame Pru- 



114 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2896-2935. 



dence, 'I make no semblant of 
wratthe ne anger but for your grete 
profit. / For Salomon seith : " he 
is more worth, that repreveth or 
chydeth a fool for his folye, shew- 
inge him semblant of wratthe, / 
than he that supporteth him and 
preyseth him in his misduinge, and 
laugheth at his folye." / And this 
same Salomon seith afterward : that 
" by the sorweful visage of a man," 
that is to seyn, by the sory and hevy 
countenaunce of a man, / " the fool 

2900 correcteth and amendeth himself." '/ 
§ 59. Thanne seyde Melibee, ' I 
shal nat conne answere to so manye 
faire resouns as ye putten to me 
and shewen. / Seyeth shortly your 
wil and your conseil, and I am al 
ready to fultille and parfourne it.' / 
§ 60. Thanne dame Prudence dis- 
covered al hir wil to him, and 
seyde, / * I conseille yow,' quod 
she, ' aboven alle thinges, that ye 
make pees bitwene god and yow; / 
and beth reconsiled un-to him and 

2905 to his grace. / For as I have seyd 
yow heer-biforn, god hath suffred 
yow to have this tribulacioun and 
disese for your sinnes. / And if ye 
do as I sey yow, god wol sende your 
adversaries un-to yow, / and maken 
hem fallen at your feet, redy to do 
your wil and your comandements. / 
For Salomon seith : " whan the 
condicioun of man is plesaunt and 
likinge to god, / he chaungeth the 
hertes of the mannes adversaries, 
and constreyneth hem to biseken 

2910 him of pees and of grace." / And 
I prey yow, lat me speke with your 
adversaries in privee place; /for 
they shul nat knowe that it be of 
your wil or your assent. / And 
thanne, whan I knowe hir wil and 
hir entente, I may conseille yow the 
more seurly.' / 

§61. * Dame,' quod Melibee, 
* dooth your wil and your lykinge, / 
for I putte me hoolly in your dis- 

2915 posicioun and ordinaunce.' / 

§ 62. Thanne Dame Prudence, 
whan she saugh the gode wil of her 



housbonde, delibered and took avys 
in hir-self, / thinkinge how she 
mighte bringe this nede un-to a 
good conclusioun and to a good 
ende. / And whan she saugh hir 
tyme, she sente for thise adversaries 
to come un-to hir in-to a privee 
place, / and shewed wysly un-to 
hem the grete goodes that comen 
of pees, / and the grete harmes and 
perils that been in werre; / and 2920 
seyde to hem in a goodly manere, 
how that hem oughte have greet 
repentaunce / of the iniurie and 
wrong that they hadden doon to 
Melibee hir lord, and to hir, and to 
hir doghter. / 

§ 63. And whan they herden the 
goodliche wordes of dame Pru- 
dence, / they weren so surprised and 
ravisshed, and hadden so greet loye 
of hir, that wonder was to telle. / 
' A ! lady ! ' quod they, * ye han 
shewed un-to us " the blessinge of 
swetnesse," after the sawe of David 
the prophete; / for the reconsihnge 2^5 
which we been nat worthy to have in 
no manere, / but we oghte requeren 
it with greet contricioun and humili- 
tee, / ye of your grete goodnesse 
have presented unto us. / Now 
see we wel that the science and the 
conninge of Salomon is ful trewe ; / 
for he seith: that " swete wordes 
multiplyen and encresen freendes, 
and maken shrewes to be debonaire 
and meke." / 2930 

§ 64. * Certes,' quod they, * we 
putten our dede and al our matere 
and cause al hoolly in your goode 
wil; / and been redy to obeye to 
the speche and comandement of 
my lord Melibee. / And therfore, 
dere and benigne lady, we preyen 
yow and biseke yow as mekely as 
we conne and mowen, / that it lyke 
un-to your grete goodnesse to ful- 
fillen in dede your goodliche 
wordes; / for we consideren and 
knowlichen that we han offended 
and greved my lord Melibee out 
of mesure; /so ferforth, that we 2935 
be nat of power to maken hise 



2936-2973.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



"5 



aniendes. / And therfore we oblige 
and binden us and our freendes to 
doon al his wil and hise comande- 
ments. / But peraventure he hath 
svvich hevinesse and swich wratthe 
to US-ward, by-cause of our offence, / 
that he wole enioyne us swich a 
peyne as we mowe nat l)ere ne sus- 
tene. / And therfore, noble lady, 
we biseke to your wommanly 

2940 pitee, / to taken swich avysement 
in this nede, that we, ne our 
freendes, be nat desherited ne 
destroyed thurgh our folye.' / 

§ 65. * Certes,' quod Prudence, 
'it is an hard thing and right peril- 
ous, /that a man putte him al 
outrely in the arbitracioun and 
luggement, and in the might and 
power of hise enemys. / P'or Salo- 
mon seith : " leveth me, and yeveth 
credence to that 1 shal seyn; I 
seye," quod he, " ye peple, folk, 
and governours of holy chirche, / 
to thy sone, to thy wyf, to thy 

2945 freend, ne to thy brother / ne yeve 
thou never might ne maistrie of thy 
body, whyl thou livest." / Now 
sithen he defendeth, that man shal 
nat yeven to his brother ne to his 
freend the might of his body, / by 
a strenger resoun he defendeth and 
forbedeth a man to yeven him-self 
to his enemy. / And nathelees I 
conseille you, that ye mistruste nat 
my lord. / For I woot wel and 
knowe verraily, that he is debonaire 

295° and meke, large, curteys, / and 
nothing desyrous ne coveitous of 
good ne richesse. / For ther nis 
no-thing in this world that he 
desyreth, save only worship and 
honour. / Forther-more I knowe 
wel, and am right seur, that he shal 
no-thing doon in this nede with- 
outen my conseil. / And I shal so 
M'erken in this cause, that, by grace 
of our lord god, ye shul been recon- 
siled un-to us.' / 

§ 66. Thanne seyden they with o 
vols, ' worshipful lady, we putten us 
and our goodes al fully in your wil 

2955 and disposicioun; / and been redy 



to comen, what day that it lyke 
un-to your noblesse to limite us or 
assigne us, / for to raaken our obli- 
gacioun and bond as strong as it 
lyketh un-to your goodnesse; / 
that we mowe fulfiUe the wille of 
yow and of my lord Melibee.' / 

§ 67. Whan dame Prudence 
hadde herd the answeres of thise 
men, she bad hem goon agayn 
prively; / and she retourned to hir 
lord Melibee, and tolde him how she 
fond hise adversaries ful repentant,/ 2960 
knowlechinge ful lowely hir sinnes 
and trespas, and how tliey were 
redy to sufiren al peyne, / requir- 
inge and preyinge him of mercy and 
pitee. / 

§ 68. Thanne seyde Melibee, ' he 
is wel worthy to have pardoun and 
foryifnesse of his sinne, that ex- 
cuseth nat his sinne, / but know- 
lecheth it and repenteth him, axinge 
indulgence. / For Scnek seith : 
" ther is the remissioun and foryif- 
nesse, where-as confessioun is;"/ 2965 
for confession is neighebore to inno- 
cence. / And he seith in another 
place : " he that hath shame for his 
sinne and knovvlecheth it, is worthy 
remissioun." And therfore I as- 
sente and conferme me to have 
pees; / but it is good that we do 
it nat with-outen the assent and wil 
of our freendes.' / 

§ 69. Thanne was Prudence right 
glad and loyeful, and seyde, / 
' Certes, sir,' quod she, * ye han wel 
and goodly answered. / For right 2970 
as by the conseil, assent, and help 
of your freendes, ye han been stired 
to venge yow and maken werre, / 
right so with-outen liir conseil shul 
ye nat accorden yow, ne have pees 
with your adversaries. / P'or the 
lawe seith : ** ther nis no-thing so 
good by wey of kinde, as a thing to 
been unbounde by him that it was 
y-bounde." ' / 

§ 70. And thanne dame Pru- 
dence, with-outen delay or taryinge, 
sente anon hir messages for hir kin, 
and for hir olde freendes whiche 



ii6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2974-3017. 



that were trewe and wyse, / and 
tolde hem by ordre, in the presence 
of Melibee, al this matere as it is 

2975 aboven expressed and declared; / 
and preyden hem that they wolde 
yeven hir avys and conseil, what 
best were to doon in this nede. / 
And whan MeHbees freendes hadde 
taken hir avys and deUberacioun of 
the forseide matere, / and hadden 
examined it by greet bisinesse and 
greet diligence, / theyyave ful con- 
seil for to have pees and reste; / 
and that Melibee sholde receyve 
with good herte hise adversaries to 

2980 foryifnesse and mercy. / 

§ 71. And whan dame Prudence 
hadde herd the assent of hir lord 
Melibee, and the conseil of hise 
freendes, / accorde with hir wille 
and hir entencioun, / she was won- 
derly glad in hir herte, and seyde : / 

• ther is an old proverbe,' quod she, 

* seith : that " the goodnesse that 
thou mayst do this day, do it ; / 
and abyde nat ne delaye it nat til 

29S5 to-morwe," / And therfore I con- 
seille that ye sende your messages, 
swiche as been discrete and wyse, / 
un-to your adversaries; tellinge 
hem, on your bihalve, / that if they 
wole trete of pees and of accord, / 
that they shape hem, with-outen 
delay or tarying, to comen un-to 
us.' / Which thing parfourned 

2990 was in dede. / And whanne thise 
trespassours and repentinge folk of 
hir folies, that is to seyn, the adver- 
saries of Melibee, / hadden herd 
what thise messagers seyden un-to 
hem, / they weren right glad and 
loyeful, and answereden ful mekely 
and benignely, / yeldinge graces 
and thankinges to hir lord Melibee 
and to al his companye; / and 
shopen hem, with-outen delay, to 
go with the messagers, and obeye to 
the comandement of hir lord Meli- 

2995 bee. / 

§ 72. And right anon they token 
hir wey to the court of Melibee, / 
and token with hem sorame of hir 
trewe freendes, to maken feith for 



hem and for to been hir borwes. / 
And whan they were comen to the 
presence of Melibee, he seyde hem 
thise wordes : / ' it standeth thus,' 
quod Melibee, * and sooth it is, that 
ye, / causeless, and with-outen skile 
and resoun, / han doon grete iniu- 3000 
ries and wronges to me and to my 
wyf Prudence, and to my doghter 
also. / For ye han entred in-to 
myn hous by violence, / and have 
doon swich outrage, that alle men 
knowen wel that ye have deserved 
the deeth; /and therfore wol I 
knowe and wite of yow, / whether 
ye wol putte the punissement and 
the chastysinge and the vengeance 
of this outrage in the wil of me 
and of my wyf Prudence; or ye wol 
nat?' / 3°°5 

§ 73. Thanne thewyseste of hem 
three answerde for hem alle, and 
seyde : / * sire,' quod he, * we 
knowen wel, that we been un- 
worthy to comen un-to the court of 
so greet a lord and so worthy as ye 
been. / For we han so greetly mis- 
taken us, and han offended and agilt 
in swich a wyse agayn your heigh 
lordshipe, / that trewely we han de- 
served the deeth. / But yet, for 
the grete goodnesse and debonair- 
etee that all the world witnesseth of 
your persone, / we submitten us to 3010 
the excellence and benignitee of 
your gracious lordshipe, / and been 
redytoobeie to alle your comande- 
ments; / bisekinge yow, that of 
your merciable pitee ye wol con- 
sidere our grete repentaunce and 
lowe submissioun, / and graunten 
us foryevenesse of our outrageous 
trespas and offence. / For wel we 
knowe, that your liberal grace and 
mercy strecchen hem ferther in-to 
goodnesse, than doon our outrage- 
ouse giltes and trespas in-to wik- 
kednesse; / al-be-it that cursedly 3015 
and dampnably we han agilt agayn 
your heigh lordshipe.' / 

§ 74. Thanne Melibee took hem 
up fro the ground ful benignely, / 
and receyved hir obligaciouns and 



30IS-3060.] 



B. THE TALE OF MELIBEUS. 



17 



hir bondes by hir othes up-on hir 
plegges and borwes, / and assigned 
hem a certeyn day to retourne un-to 
his court, / for to accepte and re- 
ceyve the sentence and lugement 
that MeUbee wolde comande to be 
doon on hem by the causes afore- 

3020 seyd; / whiche thinges ordeyned, 
every man retourned to his hous. / 
§ 75. And whan that dame Pru- 
dence saugh hir tyme, she freyned 
and axed hir lord Mehbee, / what 
vengeance he thoughte to taken of 
hise adversaries ? / 

§ 76. To which Mehbee an- 
swerde and seyde, * certes,' quod 
he, * I thinke and purpose me 
fully / to desherite hem of al that 
ever they han, and for to putte hem 

3025 in exil for ever.' / 

§ 77. 'Certes,' quod dame Pru- 
dence, * this were a cruel sentence, 
and muchel agayn resoun. / For 
ye been riche y-nough, and han no 
nede of other mennes good; / and 
ye mighte lightly in this wyse gete 
yow a coveitous name, / which is a 
vicious thing, and oghte been es- 
chewed of every good man. / For 
after the sawe of the word of the 
apostle : " coveitise is rote of alle 

303° harmes." / And therfore, it were 
bettre for yow to lese so muchel good 
of your owene, than for to taken of 
hir good in this manere. / For 
bettre it is to lesen good with wor- 
shipe, than it is to winne good with 
vileinye and shame. / And every 
man oghte to doon his diligence 
and his bisinesse to geten him a 
good name. / And yet shal he nat 
only bisie him in kepinge of his 
good name, / but he shal also en- 
forcen him alwey to do som-thing 
by which he may renovelle his good 

3035 name; / for it is writen, that "the 
olde good loos or good name of a 
man is sone goon and passed, whan 
it is nat newed ne renovelled." / 
And as touchinge that ye seyn, ye 
wole exile your adversaries, / that 
thinketh me muchel agayn resoun 
and out of mesure, / considered the 



power that they han yeve yow up-on 
hem-self. / And it is writen, that 
" he is worthy to lesen his privilege 
that misuseth the might and the 
power that is yeven him." / And 3040 
I sette cas ye mighte enioyne hem 
that peyne by right and by lawe, / 
which I trowe ye mowe nat do, / I 
seye, ye mighte nat putten it to exe- 
cucioun per-aventure, / and thanne 
were it lykly to retourne to the 
werre as it was biforn. / And ther- 
fore, if ye wole that men do yow 
obeisance, ye moste demen more 
curteisly; / this is to seyn, ye moste 3045 
yeven more esy sentences and luge- 
ments. / For it is writen, that " he 
that most curteisly comandeth, to 
him men most obeyen." / And 
therfore, I prey yow that in this 
necessitee and in this nede, ye 
caste yow to overcome your herte. / 
For Senek seith: that "he that 
overcometh his herte, overcometh 
twyes." / And TuUius seith : " ther 
is no-thing so comendable in a greet 
lord / as whan he is debonaire and 3050 
meke, and appeseth him lightly." / 
And I prey yow that ye wole forbere 
now to do vengeance, / in svvich a 
manere, that your goode name may 
be kept and conserved ; / and that 
men mowe have cause and matere 
to preyse yow of pitee and of 
mercy; / and that ye have no cause 
to repente yow of thing that ye 
doon. / For Senek seith: " he over- 3055 
Cometh in an yvel manere, that re- 
penteth him of his victorie." / 
Wherfore I pray yow, lat mercy 
been in your minde and in your 
herte, / to theffect and entente that 
god almighty have mercy on yow in 
his laste lugement. / For seint 
lame seith in his epistle : " luge- 
ment withouten mercy shal be doon 
to him, that hath no mercy of 
another wight." ' / 

§ 78. Whanne Mehbee hadde 
herd the grete skiles and resouns of 
dame Prudence, and hir wise infor- 
maciouns and techinges, / his herte 3060 
gan enclyne to the vvil of his wyf, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3061-31 1 6. 



3065 



consideringe hir trewe entente; / 
and conformed him anon, and as- 
sented fully to werken after Idr con- 
seil; / and thonked god, of whom 
procedeth al vertu and alle good- 
nesse, that him sente a wyf of so 
greet discrecioun. / And whan the 
day cam that hise adversaries sholde 
apperen in his presence, / he spak 
unto hem ful goodly, and seyde in 
this wyse : / ' al-be-it so that of your 
pryde and presumpcioun and folic, 
and of your necligence and uncon- 
ninge, / ye have misborn yow and 
trespassed un-to me; / yet, for as 
much as I see and biholde your grete 
humilitee, / and that ye been sory 
and repentant of your giltes, / it 



constreyneth me to doon yow grace 
and mercy. / Therfore I receyve 3070 
yow to my grace, / and foryeve yow 
outrely alle the offences, iniuries, 
and wronges, that ye have doon 
agayn me and myne ; / to this effect 
and to this ende, that god of his 
endelees mercy / wole at the tyme 
of our dyinge foryeven us our giltes 
that we han trespassed to him in 
this wrecched world. / For doute- 
lees, if we be sory and repentant of 
the sinnes and giltes whiche we han 
trespassed in the sighte of our lord 
god, / he is so free and so merci- 3075 
able, / that he wole foryeven us our 
giltes, / and bringen us to his blisse 
that never hath ende. Amen.' / 



your 
Here is ended Chancers Tale of Melibee and of Dame Prudence, 



THE MONK'S PROLOGUE. 



The mery wordes of the Host to the 
Monk. 

Whan ended was my tale of Melibee, 
And of Prudence and hir benignitee, 3080 
Our hoste seyde, * as I am faithful man, 
And by the precious corpus Madrian, 
I hadde lever than a barel ale 
That goode lief my wyf hadde herd this 

tale ! 3084 

For she nis no-thing of svvich pacience 
As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence. 
By goddes bones ! whan I bete my 

knaves, 
She bringth me forth the grete clobbed 

staves, 
And cryeth, "slee the dogges everich- 

oon, 
And brek hem, bothe bak and every 

boon." 3090 

And if that any neighebor of myne 
Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne, 
Or be so hardy to hir to trespace. 
Whan she comth hoom, she rampeth 

in my face. 
And cryeth, " false coward, wreck thy 

wyf, 3095 



By corpiis bones ! I wol have thy knyf, 
And thou shalt have my distaf and go 

spinne ! " 
Fro day to night right thus she wol bi- 

ginne; — 
*' Alias ! " she seith, " that ever I was 

shape 3099 

To wedde a milksop or a coward ape, 
That wol be overlad with every wight ! 
Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves 

right ! " 
This is my lyf, but-if that I wol fighte; 
And out at dore anon I moot me dighte, 
Or elles I am but lost, but-if that I 3105 
Be lyk a wilde leoun fool- hardy. 
I woot wel she wol do me slee som day 
Som neighebor, and thanne go my wey. 
For I am perilous with knyf in honde, 
Al be it that I dar nat hir withstonde. 
For she is big in amies, by my feith, 31 1 1 
That shal he findc, that hir misdooth or 

seith. 
But lat us passe awey fro this matere. 
My lord the Monk,' quod he, *be mery 

of chere; 
For ye shul telle a tale trewely. 31 15 

Lo ! Rouchestre stant heer faste by ! 



3II7-3I80.] 



B. THE MONK'S PROLOGUE. 



19 



Ryd forth, myn owene lord, brek nat our 

game. 
But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat your 

name, 
Wher shal I calle yow my lord dan lohn, 
Or dan Thomas, or elles dan Albon? 3120 
Of what hous be ye, by your fader kin? 
I vow to god, thou hast a ful fair skin. 
It is a gentil pasture ther thou goost; 
Thou art nat lyk a penaunt or a goost. 
Upon my feith,thou art som officer, 3125 
Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer, 
For by my fader soule, as to my doom, 
Thou art a maister whan thou art at 

hoom ; 
No povre cloisterer, ne no novys, 
But a governour, wyly and wys. 3130 
And therwithal of brawnes and of bones 
A wel-faring persone for the nones. 
I pray to god, yeve him confusioun 
That first thee broghte un-to religioun; 
Thou woldest ban been a trede-foul 

aright. 3135 

Haddestow as greet a leve, as thou hast 

might 
To parfourne al thy lust in engen- 

drure, 
Thou haddest bigeten many a creature. 
Alas ! why werestow so wyd a cope? 
God yeve me sorwe ! but, and I were a 

pope, 3140 

Not only thou, but every mighty man, 
Thogh he were shorn ful hye upon his 

pan, 
Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is 

lorn ! 
Religioun hath take up al the corn 
Of treding, and we borel men ben 

shrimpes! 3H5 

Of feble trees ther comen wrecched 



impes. 
This maketh that 
sclendre 



And feble, that they may nat wel engen- 

dre. 
This maketh that our wyves wol assaye 
Religious folk, for ye may bettre paye 
Of Venus payements than mowe we; 3151 
God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye ! 
But be nat wrooth, my lord, for that I 

pleye; 
Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd 

seye.' 3154 

This worthy monk took al in pacience, 
And seyde, ' I m'oI doon al my diligence, 
As fer as souneth in-to honestee. 
To telle yow a tale, or two, or three. 
And if yow list to herkne hiderward, 
I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint Edward ; 
Or elles first Tragedies wol I telle 3161 
Of whiche I have an hundred in my 

celle. 
Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie, 
As olde bokes maken us memorie. 
Of him that stood in greet prosperitee 
And is y-fallen out of heigh degree 3166 
Into miserie, and endeth wrecchedly. 
And they ben versifyed comunly 
Of six feet, which men clepe exaineij'on. 
In prose eek been endyted many oon. 
And eek in metre, in many a sondry 

wyse. 3 1 71 

Lo ! this declaring oughte y-nough suf- 

fise. 
Now herkneth, if yow lyketh for to 

here; 
But first I yow biseke in this matere. 
Though I by ordre telle nat thise 

thinges, 3175 

Be it of popes, emperours, or kinges. 
After hir ages, as men writen finde. 
But telle hem som bifore and som bi- 

hinde. 
As it now comth un-to my remem- 
our heires been so braunce; 3^79 

Have me excused of myn ignoraunce.' 
Explicit. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES 



[3181-3240. 






THE MONKES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Monkes Tale^ de 
Casibus Virortmi IlUistrinm. 

I WOL biwayle in maner of Tragedie 
The harm of hem that stode in heigh 

degree, 
And fillen so that ther nas no remedie 
To bringe hem out of hir adversitee; 
For certein, whan that fortune list to 

flee, 3185 

Ther may no man the cours of hir vvith- 

holde; 
Lat no man truste on bHnd prosperitee; 
Be war by thise ensamples trewe and 

olde. 

Lucifer. 

At Lucifer, though he an angel were, 
And nat a man, at him I vvol biginne; 
For, thogh fortune may non angel dere, 
From heigh degree yet fel he for his sinne 
Doun in-to helle, wher he yet is inne. 
O Lucifer ! brightest of angels alle, 
Now artow Sathanas, that maist nat 

twinne 3^95 

Out of miserie, in which that thou art 

falle. 

Adam. 

Lo Adam, in the feld of Damassene, 
With goddes owene finger wroght was 

he. 
And nat bigeten of mannes sperme un- 

clene, 
And welte al Paradys, saving o tree. 3200 
Had never worldly man so heigh degree 
As Adam, til he for misgovernaunce 
Was drive out of his hye prosperitee 
To labour, and to helle, and to mes- 

chaunce. 

Sampson. 

Lo Sampson, which that was annunciat 
By thangel, longe er his nativitee, 3206 
And was to god almighty consecrat, 
And stood in noblesse, whyl he mighte 
see. 



Was never swich another as was he, 
To speke of strengthe, and therwith 

hardinesse; 3210 

But to his wyves tolde he his secree. 
Through which he slow him-self, for 

wrecchednesse. 

Sampson, this noble almighty champioun, 
Withouten wepen save his hondes tweye, 
He slow and al to-rente the leoun, 3215 
Toward his wedding walking by the 

weye. 
His false wyf coude him so plese and 

preye 
Til she his conseil knew, and she untrewe 
Un-to his foos his conseil gan biwreye. 
And him forsook, and took another 

newe. 3220 

Three hundred foxes took Sampson for 

ire, 
And alle hir tayles he togider bond. 
And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire, 
For he on every tayl had knit a brond; 
And they brende alle the cornes in that 

lond, 3225 

And alle hir oliveres and vynes eek, 
A thousand men he slow eek with his 

bond, 
And had no wepen but an asses cheek. 

Whan they were slayn, so thursted him 

that he 
Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to 

preye 3230 

That god vvolde on his peyne ban som 

pitee. 
And sende him drinke, or elles moste he 

deye; 
And of this asses cheke, that was dreye, 
Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle, 
Of which he drank y-nogh, shortly to 

seye, 3235 

Thusheelp him god, as ludicum can telle. 

By verray force, at Gazan, on a night, 
Maugree Philistiens of that citee, 
The gates of the toun he hath up-plight, 
And on his bak y-caried hem hath he 



3241-3306.] 



B. THE MONKES TALE. 



Hye on an hille that men mighte hem 
see. 3241 

O noble almighty Sampson, leef and dere, 
Had thou nat told to wommen thysecree, 
In al this worlde ne hadde been thy pere ! 

This Sampson never sicer drank ne wyn, 
Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne 

shere, 3246 

By precept of the messager divyn, 
For alle his strengthes in his heres were; 
And fully twenty winter, yeer by yere, 
He hadde of Israel the governaunce. 
But sone shal he vvepen many a tere, 325 1 
For wommen shal him bringen to mes- 

chaunce ! 

Un-to his lemman Dalida he tolde 
That in his heres al his strengthe lay, 
And falsly to his fo-men she him solde. 
And sleping in hir barme up-on a day 
She made to clippe or shere his heer 

awey, 3257 

And made his fo-men al his craft espyen; 
And whan that they him fonde in this 

array. 
They bounde him faste, and putten out 

his yen. 3260 

But er his heer were clipped or y-shave, 
Ther was no bond with which men might 

him binde; 
But now is he in prisoun in a cave, 
Wher-as they made him at the querne 

grinde. 
O noble Sampson, strongest of man- 

kinde, 3265 

O whylom luge in glorie and in richesse, 
Now maystow wepen with thyn yen 

blinde, 
Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecched- 

nesse. 

Thende of this caytif was as I shal seye; 
His fo-men made a feste upon a day, 3270 
And made him as hir fool bifore hem 

pleye, 
And this was in a temple of greet array. 
But atte laste he made a foul affray; 
For he two pilers shook, and made hem 

falle. 
And doun fil temple and al, and ther it 
. lay> 3275 



And slow him-self, and eek his fo-men 
alle. 

This is to seyn, the princes everichoon. 
And eek three thousand bodies wer ther 

slayn 
With falling ot the grete temple of stoon. 
Of Sampson now wol I na-more seyn. 
Beth war by this ensample old and 

playn 3281 

That no men telle hir conseil til hir 

wyves 
Of swich thing as they wolde han secree 

fayn, 
If that it touche hir limmes or hir lyves. 

Hercules. 

Of Hercules the sovereyn conquerour 

Singen his workes laude and heigh re- 
noun; 3286 

For in his tyme of strengthe he was the 
flour. 

He slow, and rafte the skin of the leoun; 

He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun; 

He Arpies slow, the cruel briddes 
felle; 3290 

He golden apples rafte of the dragoun; 

He drow out Cerberus, the hound of 
helle : 

He slow the cruel tyrant Busirus, 

And made his hors to frete him, flesh 

and boon; 
He slow the firy serpent venimous; 3295 
Of Achelois two homes, he brak oon; 
And he slow Cacus in a cave of stoon; 
He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge; 
He slow the grisly boor, and that anoon, 
And bar the heven on his nekke 

longe. 3300 

Was never wight, sith that the world 

bigan, 
That slow so many monstres as dide he. 
Thurgh-out this wyde world his name 

ran. 
What for his strengthe, and for his heigh 

bountee. 
And every reaume wente he for to 

see. 3305 

He was so strong that no man mighte 

him leUe; 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3307-3378. 



At bothe the worldes endes, seith Tro- 

phcc, 
In stcde of boundes, he a pilcr sette. 

A Icmman hadde this nol)lc champioun, 
That highte Dianira, fresh as May; 3310 
And, as thise clerkes maken niencioun, 
She lialh liini sent a shcrte fresh and fjay. 
Alias ! this sherte, alias and weylaway ! 
Enveninied was so suhlilly with-alle, 
That, er that he had wered it half a 
day, 3315 

It made his flesh al from his bones falle. 

liut nathelees somme clerkes hir excusen 
By oon that highte Ncssus, that it niaked; 
Be as be may, I wol hir noght accuscn; 
But on his bak this sherte he wered al 

naked, 3320 

Til that his flesh was for the venim 

blaked. 
And whan he sey noon other remedye, 
In hote coles he hath him-selven raked, 
For with no venim deyned him to dye. 

Thus starf this worthy mighty Hercules; 
Lo, who may truste on fortune any 

throwe? 3326 

For him that folweth al this world of prees, 
Er he be war, is ofte y-leyd ful lowe. 
Ful wys is he that can him-selven knowe. 
Beth war, for whan that fortune list to 

glose, 3330 

Than wayteth she hir man to overthrowe 
By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose. 

Nabugodonosor (Nebuchadnezzar). 

The mighty trone, the precious tresor. 
The glorious ceptre and royal magestce 
That hadde the king Nabugodonosor, 
With tonge unnethe may discryved be. 
He twyes wan Jerusalem the citee ; 
The vessel of the temple he with him 

ladde. 
At Babiloyne was his sovereyn see. 
In which his glorie and his delyt he 

hadde. 3340 

The fairest children of the blood royal 
Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon, 
And maked ech of hem to beeii his 
thral. 



Amonges othere Daniel was oon, 3344 
That was the wysest child of everichoon ; 
For he the dremes of the kingexpouned, 
Wher-as in Chaldey clerk ne was ther 

noon 
That wiste to what fyn his dremes 

souned. 

This proude king leet make a statue of 
golde, ^ 3349 

Sixty cul)ytes long, and seven in l)rede, 
To which image bothe yonge and olde 
Comaunded he to loute, and have in 

drede ; 
Or in a fourneys ful of flambes rede 
He shal be brent, that wolde noght 
obeye. 3354 

Ihit never wolde assente to that dede 
Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye. 

This king of kinges proud was and elaat, 
He wende that god, that sit in magestce, 
Ne mighte him nat bireve of his estaat : 
But sodeynly he loste his dignitee, 3360 
And lyk a l)cste him semed for to be, 
And eet hay as an oxe, and lay ther- 

oute ; 
In reyn with wilde bestes walked he, 
Til certein tyme was y-come aboute. 

And lyk an eglcs fetheres wexe his 

heres, 3365 

His nayles lyk a briddes clawes were ; 
Til god relessed him a certein yeres. 
And yaf him wit ; and than with many a 

tere 
He thanked god, and ever his lyf in 

fere 
Was he to doon amis, or more trespace, 
And, til that tymc he leyd was on his 

here, 3371 

He knew that god was ful of might and 

grace. 

Baltiiasar (Belsiiazzar) 

His sone, which that highte Balthasar, 
That heeld the regne after his fader 
day, 3374 

He by his fader coude nought be war. 
For proud he was of herte and of array ; 
And eck an ydolastre was he ay. 
His hye estaat assured him in pryde. 



3379-3447-] 



B. THE MONKES TALE. 



[23 



But fortune caste him doun, and ther he 

lay, 
And sodeynly his regne gan divyde. 3380 

A feste he made un-to his lordcs alle 
Up-on a tyme, and bad hem blythe be, 
And than his officcres gan he calle — 

* Goth, bringeth forth the vessels,' [tho] 

quod he, 3384 

* Which that my fader, in his prosperitee. 
Out of the temple of lerusalem birafte, 
And to our hye goddes thanke we 

Of honour, that our eldres with us lafte.' 

His wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes 
Ay dronken, whyl hir appetytes laste, 
Out of thise noble vessels sundry wynes ; 
And on a wal this king his yen caste. 
And sey an hond armlees, that wroot ful 

faste, 
For fere of which he quook and syked 

sore. 3394 

This hond, that Balthasar so sore agaste, 
Wroot Matte, techel,phares, and na-more. 

In al that lond magicien was noon 
That coude expoune what this lettre 

mente ; 
But Daniel expouned it anoon, 3399 

And seyde, ' king, god to thy fader lente 
Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente : 
And he was proud, and no-thing god ne 

dradde, 
And therfor god gret wreche up-on him 

sente, 
And him birafte the regne that he 

hadde. 

He was out cast of mannes companye. 
With asses was his hal)itacioun, 3406 
And eet hey as a beste in weet and drye, 
Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun, 
That god of heven hath dominacioun 
Over every regne and every creature ; 
And thanne had god of him compassioun. 
And him restored his regne and his 
figure. 

Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud 

also, 
And knowest alle thise thinges verraily. 
And art rebel to god, and art his fo. 3415 
Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely ; 



Thy wyf eek and thy wenches sinfully 
Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynes, 
And heriest false goddes cursedly ; 
Therfor to thee y-shapen ful gret pyne 
is. 3420 

This hand was sent from god, that on 

the walle 
Wioot inane, teehel, phares, truste me ; 
Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at 

alle ; 
Divyded is thy regne, and it shal be 
To Medes and to Perses yeven,' quod he. 
And thilke same night this king was 

slawe, 
And Darius occupyeth his degree, 
Thogh he therto had neither right ne 

lawe. 

Lordinges, ensample heer-by may ye 

take 3429 

How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse ; 
For whan fortune wol a man forsake, 
She bereth awey his regne and his 

richesse. 
And eek his freendes, bothe more and 

lesse ; 
For what man that hath freendes thurgh 

fortune, 3434 

Mishap wol make hem enemys, I gesse : 
This proverbe is ful sooth and ful 

commune. 

Cenobia (Zenobia). 

Cenobia, of Palimerie quene. 
As writen Persiens of hir noblesse, 
So worthy was in amies and so kene, 
That no wight passed hir in hardinesse, 
Ne in linage, ne in other gentillesse. 
Of kinges blode of Perse is she de- 
scended ; 
I seye nat that she hadde most fair- 

nesse. 
But of hir shape she mighte nat been 
amended. 

From hir childhede I finde that she 
fledde 3445 

Office of wommcn, and to wode she 
wentc ; 

And many a wilde hertes blood she 
shedde 



24 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3448-3512. 



With arwes brodc that she to hem 

sente. 
She was so swift that she anon hem 

hente, 
And whan that she was elder, she wolde 

kille 3450 

Leouns, lepardes, and beres al to-rente, 
And in hir armes welde hem at hir wille. 

She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke, 
And rennen in the montaignes al the 

night, 
And slepen under a bush, and she coude 

eke 3455 

Wrastlen by verray force and verray 

might 
With any yong man, were he never so 

wight ; 
Ther mighte no-thing in hir armes 

stonde. 
She kepte hir maydenhod from every 

wight, 
.To no man deigned hir for to be 

bonde. 3460 

But atte laste hir frendes han hir maried 
To Odenake, a prince of that contree, 
Al were it so that she hem longe taried; 
And ye shul undcrstonde how that he 
Iladde swiche fantasyes as hadde she. 
But nathelees, whan they were knit in- 

fere, 3466 

They lived in loye and in felicitee; 
For ech of hem hadde other leef and 

dere. 

Save o thing, that she never wolde 

assente 
By no wey, that he sholde by hir lye 3470 
But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente 
To have a child, the world to multiplye; 
And al-so sone as that she mighte 

espye 
That she was nat with childe with that 

dede, 
Than wolde she suffre him doon his 

fantasye 3475 

Eft -sone, and nat but ones, out of drede. 

And if she were with childe at thilke 

cast, 
Na-more sholde he pleyen thilke game 
Til fully fourty dayes weren past; 



Than wolde she ones suffre him do the 
same. 3480 

Al were this Odenake wilde or tame, 
He gat na-more of hir, for thus she 

seyde, 
' It was to wyves lecherye and shame 
In other cas, if that men with hem 
pleyde.' 

Two sones by this Odenake hadde she. 
The whiche she kepte in vertu and let- 

trure; 3486 

But now un-to our tale turne we. 
I seye, so worshipful a creature, 
And wys therwith, and large with me- 

sure. 
So penible in the werre, and curteis 

eke, ^ 3490 

Ne more labour mighte in werre endure. 
Was noon, thogh al this world men 

sholde seke. 

Ilir riche array ne mighte nat be told 
As wel in vessel as in hir clothing; 
She was al clad in perree and in gold. 
And eek she lafte noght, for noon hunt- 

i"g» 3496 

To have of sondry tonges ful knowing, 
Whan that she leyser hadde, and for to 

entende 
To lernen bokes was al hir lyking. 
How she in vertu mighte hir lyf dis- 

pende. 3500 

And, shortly of this storie for to trete, 
So doughty was hir housbonde and eek 

she, 
That they conquered many regnes grete 
In the orient, with many a fair citee, 
Apertenaunt un-to the magestee 35^5 
Of Rome, and with strong hond helde 

hem ful faste; 
Ne never mighte hir fo-men doon hem 

flee. 
Ay whyl that Odenakes dayes laste. 

Hir batailes, who-so list hem for to 

rede, 
Agayn Sapor the king and othere mo, 
And how that al this proces fil in 

dede, 35 11 

W^hy she conquered and what title had 

therto, 



35I3-3579-] 



B. THE MONKES TALE. 



:25 



And after of hir meschief and hir wo, 
How that she was hiseged and y-take, 
Let him un-to my maister Petrark go, 
That writ y-nough of this, 1 undertake. 

When Odenake was deed, she mightily 
The regnes heeld, and with hir propre 

honde 
Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly, 
That ther nas king ne prince in al that 

londe 3520 

That he nas glad, if that he grace fonde, 
That she ne wolde up-on his lond wer- 

reye ; 
With hir they made alliaunce by bonde 
To been in pees, and lete hir ryde and 

pleye. 

The emperour of Rome, Claudius, 3525 
Ne him bifure, the Romayn Galien, 
Ne dorste never been so corageous, 
Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien, 
Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabien, 
Within the feld that dorste with hir 

fighte 3530 

Lest that she wolde hem with hir hondes 

slen. 
Or with hir meynee putten hem to 

flighte. 

In kinges habit wente hir sones two, 
As heires of hir fadres regnes alle, 
■ And Hermanno, and Thymalao 3535 
Her names were, as Persiens hem calle. 
But ay fortune hath in hir hony galle; 
This mighty quene may no whyl endure. 
Fortune out of hir regne made hir falle 
To wrecchednesse and to misaventure. 

Aurelian, whan that the governaunce 
Of Rome cam in-to his hondes tweye, 
He shoop up-on this queen to do ven- 

geaunce, 
And with his legiouns he took his 

weye 
Toward Cenobie, and, shortly for to 

seye, 3545 

He made hir flee, and atte laste hir 

hente. 
And fettred hir, and eek hir children 

tweye. 
And wan the lond, and hoom to Rome 

he wente. 



Amonges othere thinges that he wan, 
Hir char, that was with gold wrought 
and perree, 355^ 

This grete Romayn, this Aurelian, 
Hath with him lad, for that men sholde 

it see. 
Biforen his triumphe walketh she 
With gilte cheynes on hir nekke hang- 
ing; . 3554 
Corouned was she, as after hir degree, 
And ful of perree charged hir clothing. 

Alias, fortune ! she that whylom was 
Dredful to kinges and to emperoures. 
Now gaureth al the peple on hir, alias ! 
And she that helmed was in starke 

stoures, 3560 

And wan by force tounes stronge and 

toures, 
Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte; 
And she that bar the ceptre ful of 

flourcs 
Shal bere a distaf, hir cost for to quyte. 

(J^EKO follows in T. ; ^<ft' p. 591.) 

De Petro Rege Ispannie. 

O noble, o worthy Petro, glorie of 

Spayne, 3565 

Whom fortune heeld so hy in magestee, 
Wei oughten men thy pitous deeth com- 

playne ! 
Out of thy lond thy brother made thee 

flee; 
And after, at a sege, by subtiltee. 
Thou were bitrayed, and lad un-to his 

tente, ^ 3570 

Wher-as he with his owene bond slow 

thee, 
Succeding in thy regne and in thy rente. 

The feeld of snow, with thegle of blak 

ther-inne, 
Caught with the lymrod, coloured as the 

glede, 
He brew this cursednes and al this 

sinne. 3575 

The ' wikked nest ' was werker of this 

nede; 
Noght Charles Oliver, that ay took hede 
Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike 
Genilon Oliver, corrupt for mede, 



126 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3580-3643. 



Broghte this worthy king in swich a 
brike. 3580 

De Petro Rege de Cipro. 

O worthy Petro, king of Cypre, also, 
That Alisaundre wan by heigh maistrye, 
Ful many a hethen wroghtestow ful wo, 
Of which thyn ovvene liges hackle envye. 
And, for no thing but for thy chivalrye, 
They in thy bedde han slayn thee by the 
morwe. 3586 

Thus can fortune hir wheel governe and 

gye, 

And out of loye bringe men to sorwe. 

De Barnabo de Lumbardia. 

Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte, 
God of delyt, and scourge of Lumbardye, 
Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, 
Sith in estaat thou clombe were so hye? 
Thy brother sone, that was thy double 

allye, 
For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe, 
With-inne his prisoun made thee to dye; 
But why, ne how, noot I that thou were 

slawe. 3596 

De Hugelino, Comite de Pize. 

Of the erl Hugelyn ofPyse the langour 
Ther may no tonge telle for pitee; 
But litel out of Pyse stant a tour, 
In whiche tour in prisoun put was he, 
And with him been his litel children 

three. 3601 

The eldeste scarsly fyf yeer was of age. 
Alias, fortune ! it was greet crueltee 
Swiche briddes for to putte in swiche a 

cage ! 

Dampned was he to deye in that pris- 
oun, 3605 

For Roger, which that bisshop was of 
Pyse, 

Hadde on him maad a fals suggestioun, 

Thurgh which the peple gan upon him 
ryse. 

And putten him to prisoun in swich 
wyse 

As ye han herd, and mete and drink he 
hadde 3610 



So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffyse. 
And thervvith-al it was ful povre and 
badde. 

And on a day bifil that, in that hour. 
Whan that his mete wont was to be 

broght, 3614 

The gayler shette the dores of the tour. 
He herde it wel, — but he spak right 

noght, 
And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght. 
That they for hunger wolde doon him 

dyen. 
' Alias ! ' quod he, ' alias ! that I was 

wroght ! ' 3619 

Thervvith the teres fillen from his yen. 

His yonge sone, that three yeer was of 

age, 
Un-to him seyde, ' fader, why do ye 

wepe ? 
Whan wol the gayler bringen our 

potage, 
Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe? 
I am so hungry that I may nat slepe. 
Now wolde god that I mighte slepen 

ever ! 3626 

Than sholde nat hunger in my wombe 

crepe; 
Ther is no thing, save breed, that me 

were lever.' 

Thus day by day this child bigan to crye, 
Til in his fadres barme adoun it lay, 3630 
And seyde, ' far- wel, fader, I moot dye,' 
And kiste his fader, and deyde the same 

day. 
And whan the woful fader deed it sey, 
For wo his armes two he gan to byte. 
And seyde, ' alias, fortune ! and weyla- 



\\'ay 



3635 



Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte ! 

His children wende that it for hunger 

was 
That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo, 
And seyde, ' fader, do nat so, alias ! 
But rather eet the flesh upon us two; 
Our flesh thou yaf us, tak our flesh us 

fro 3641 

And eet y-nough : ' right thus they to 

him seyde, 
And after that, with-in a day or two, 



3644-3716.] 



B. THE MONKES TALE. 



127 



They leyde hem in his lappe adoun, and 
deyde. 

Him-self, despeired, eek for hunger 

starf; 3645 

Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pyse; 
From heigh estaat fortune awey him 

carf. 
Of this Tragedie it oghte y-nough suf- 

fyse. 
Who-so wol here it in a lenger wyse, 
Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, 3650 
That highte Dant, for he can al devyse 
Fro point to point, nat o word wol he 

faille. 

Nero. 

Al-though that Nero were as vicious 
As any feend that lyth ful lowe adoun, 
Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius, 3655 

This wyde world hadde in subieccioun. 
Both Est and West, South and Septem- 

trioun; 
Of rubies, saphires, and of perles whyte 
Were alle his clothes brouded up and 

doun; 3659 

For he in gemmes greetly gan delyte. 

More delicat, more pompous of array. 
More proud was never emperour than 

he; 
That ilke cloth, that he hadwered o day. 
After that tyme he nolde it never see. 
Nettes of gold-thred hadde he gret 

plentee 3665 

To fisshe in Tybre, whan him liste pleye. 
His lustes were al lawe in his decree. 
For fortune as his freend him wolde 

obeye. 

He Rome brende for his delicacye; 
The senatours he slow up-on a day. 3670 
To here how men wolde wepe and crye; 
And slow his brother, and by his sister 

lay. 
His moder made he in pitous array; 
For he hir wombe slitte, to biholde 
Wher he conceyved was; so weilawey ! 
That he so litel of his moder tolde ! 3676 

No tere out of his yen for that sighte 
Ne cam, but seyde, 'a fair womman was 
she.' 



Gret wonder is, how that he coude or 

mighte 
Be domesman of hir dede beautee. 3680 
The wyn to bringen him comaunded he, 
And drank anon ; non other wo he 

made. 
Whan might is loyned un-to crueltee, 
Alias ! to depe wol the venim wade ! 

In youthe a maister hadde this emperour, 

To teche him letterure and curteisye, 

For of moralitee he was the flour. 

As in his tyme, but-if bokes lye; 

And whyl this maister hadde of him 

maistrye. 
He maked him so conning and so souple 
That longe tyme it was er tirannye 3691 
Or any vyce dorste on him uncouple. 

This Seneca, of which that I devyse, 
By-cause Nero hadde of him swich drede, 
For he fro vyces v/olde him ay chastyse 
Discreetly as by worde and nat by 

dede; — 3696 

' Sir,' wolde he seyn, ' an emperour moot 

nede 
Be vertuous, and hate tirannye ' — 
For which he in a bath made him to 

blede 3699 

On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. 

This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce 
In youthe ageyn his maister for to ryse. 
Which afterward him thoughte a greet 

grevaunce; 
Therfor he made him deyen in this wyse. 
But natheles this Seneca the wyse 3705 
Chees in a bath to deye in this manere 
Rather than ban another tormentyse; 
And thus hath Nero slayn his maistei 

dere. 

Now fil it so that fortune list no lenger 
The hye pryde of Nero to cheryce; 37 IG 
For though that he were strong, yet was 

she strenger; 
She thoughte thus, ' by god, I am to nyc 
To sette a man that is fulfild of vyce 
In heigh degree, and emperour hin 

calle. 
By god, out of his sete I wol him tryce^ 
When he leest weneth, sonest shal he 

falle.' 3716 



12S 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3717-37S8. 



The peple iocs up-on him on a nisjht 
For his defaute, and whan he it espyed, 
Out of his dores anon he hath him dight 
Alone, and, ther he wende han ben allyed, 
He knokked faste, and ay, the more he 
cryed, 3721 

The faster shette they the dores alle; 
Tho wiste he wel he hadde him-self mis- 

gyt^<-lj 
And wente his wey, no lenger dorste he 
calle. 

The peple cryde and rombled up and 

doun. 3725 

That with his eres herde he how they 

seyde, 
' Wher is this false tyraunt, this Ne- 

roun ? ' 
For fere almost out of his wit he breyde, 
And to his goddes pitously he preyde 
For socour, but it mighte nat bityde. 3730 
For drede of this, him thoughte that he 

deyde, 
And ran in-to a gardin, him to hyde. 

And in this gardin fond he cherles tweye 
That seten by a fyr ful greet and reed, 
And to thise cherles two he gan to 



preyt 



735 



To sleen him, and to girden of his heed, 
That to his bodv, whan that he were 

deed, 
Were no despyt y-doon, for his defame. 
Him-self he slow, he coude no better 

reed, 
Of which fortune lough, and hadde a 

game. 3740 

De Oloferno (Holofernes). 

Was never capitayn under a king 
That regnes mo putte in subieccioun, 
Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thing, 
As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun, 
Xe more pompous in heigh presump- 

cioun 3745 

Than Oloferne, which fortune ay kiste 
So likerously, and ladde him up and 

doun 
Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste. 

Nat only that this world hadde him in 
awe 



For lesinge of richesse or libertee, 3750 
But he made every man reneye his lawe. 
' Nabugodonosor was god,' seyde he, 
'Noon other god sholde adoured be.' 
Ageyns his heste no weight dar trespace 
Save in Bethulia, a strong citee, 3755 
Wher Eliachim a prest was of that place. 

But tak kepe of the deeth of Olofern; 
Amidde his host he dronkc lay a night, 
With-inne his tente, large as is a bern. 
And yit, for al his pompe and al his 

might, 3760 

ludith, a womman, as he lay upright, 
Sleping, his heed of smoot. and from his 

tente 
Ful prively she stal from every wight, 
And with his heed unto hir toun she 

wente. 

De Rege Anthiocho illustri. 

What nedeth it of King Anthiochus 3765 
To telle his hye royal magestee, 
His hye pryde, his werkes venimous? 
For swich another was ther noon as he. 
Rede which that he was in Machabee, 
And rede the proude wordes that he 
seyde, 3770 

And wiiy he fil fro heigh prosperitee, 
And in an hill how wrechedly he deyde. 

Fortune him hadde enhaunched so in 

pryde 
That verraily he wende he mighte attayne 
Unto the sterres, upon every syde, 3775 
And in balance weyen ech montayne. 
And alle the flodes of the see restrayne. 
And goddes peple hadde he most in 

hate. 
Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in 

pjiyne, 
Wening that god ne mighte his pryde 

abate. 3780 

And for that Xichanor and Thimothee 
Of lewes weren venquisshed mightily, 
Unto the lewes swich an hate hadde he 
That he bad greithe his char ful hastily, 
And swoor, and seyde, ful despitously. 
Unto Jerusalem he wolde eft-sone, 3786 
To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly; 
But of his purpos he was let ful sone. 



3789-3859-] 



B. THE MONKES TALE. 



129 



God for his manace him so sore smoot 
With invisible wouiuie, ay incurable, 3790 
That in his guttes carf it so and boot 
That his peynes weren importable. 
Anrl certeinly, the wreche was resonable, 
For many a mannes guctes elide he peyne; 
But from his purpos cursed and dampna- 

'^1<^ 3795 

For al his smert he wolde him nat re- 
streyne; 

But ])a'l anon apparaillen his host, 
And sodeynly, er he of it was war, 
God daunted al his pride and al his host. 
For he so sore fd out of his char, 3800 
That it his limes anrl his skin to-tar, 
So that he neither mighte go ne ryde, 
But in a chayer men aboute him bar, 
Al for-brused, bothe bak and syde. 

The wreche of god him smoot so 
cruelly 3805 

That thurgh his body wikked wormes 
crepte; 

And ther-with-al he stank so horribly, 

That noon of al his meynee that him 
kepte. 

Whether so he wook or elles slepte, 

Ne mighte noght for stink of him en- 
dure. 3810 

In this meschief he wayled and eek 
wepte, 

And knew god lord of every creature. 

To al his host and to him-self also 
Ful wlatsom was the stink of his careyne; 
No man ne mighte him bere tone fro. 381 5 
And in this stink and this horrible peyne 
He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne. 
Thus hath this robbour and this homi- 

cyde, 
That many a man made to wepe and 

pleyne, 3819 

Swich guerdon as bilongeth unto pryde. 

De Al.F.XANDRO. 

The storie of Alisaundre is so comune. 
That every w ight that hath discrecioun 
Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. 
This wyde world, as in conclusioun, 
He wan by strengthe, or for his hye re- 
noun 3825 



They weren glad for pees un-to him 

sende. 
The pryde of man and beste he leyde 

adoun, 
Wher-so he cam, un-to the worldes ende. 

Comparisoun might never yit be maked 
Bitwixe him anrl another conquerour; 
For al this world for drede of him hath 

quaked, 3831 

He was of knighthode and of fredom 

flour; 
Fortune him made the heir of hir honour; 
Save wyn and wommen, no-thing mighte 

as wage 
His hye entente in armesand labour; 3835 
So was he ful of leonyn corage. 

What preys were it to him, though I yow 

tolde 
Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo, 
Of kinges, princes, erles, dukes bolde, 
Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem 

in-to W0? 3840 

I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, 
The world was his, what sholde I more 

devyse? 
For though I write or tolde you evermo 
Of his knighthode, it mighte nat suffyse. 

Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Macha- 
bee; 3845 

Philippes sone of Macedoyne he was. 

That lirst was king in Grece the con- 
tree. 

O worthy gentil Alisaundre, alias ! 

That ever sholde fallen swich a cas ! 

Empoisoned of thyn owene folk thou 
were; 3850 

Thy sys fortune hath turned into as, 

And yit for thee ne weep she never a 
tere ! 

Who shal me yeven teres to compleyne 
The deeth of gentillesse and of fraun- 

chyse, 
That al the world welded in his 

demeyne, 3855 

And yit him thoughte it mighte nat 

suffyse? 
So ful was his corage of heigh empryse. 
Alias ! who shal me helpe to endyte 
False fortune, and poison to despyse. 



[30 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3860-3929. 



The vvhiche two of al this wo 1 
wytc? 3860 

De Iulio Cesare. 

By wisdom, manhedc, and by greet 

labcjur 
Fro huml)le bed to royal magestee, 
Up roos he, lulius the conquerour, 
That wan al thoceidcnt by lond and 

see, 
By strengthe of bond, or elles by 

tretee, 3865 

And un-to Rome made hem tributarie; 
And sitthe of Rome the emperour was 

he. 
Til that fortune wex his adversarie. 

mighty Cesar, that in Thessalye 3869 
Ageyn I'ompcius, fader tliyn in lawe, 
That of thoricnt liadde al the ehivalrye 
As fer as that the day l^iginneth davve, 
Thou thurgh thy knighthode hast hem 

take and slavvc, 
Save fewe folk that with Pompeius 

fledde, 
Thurgh which thou puttcst al thorient in 

awe. 3875 

Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde ! 

But now a litel whyl I wol biwaille 
This Pompeius, this nol)le g(Jvernour 
Of Rome, which that Heigh at this 
bataille; 3879 

1 seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour. 
His heed of smoot, to winnen him favour 
Of lulius, and him the heed he broghte. 
Alias, Pomi^ey, of thorient conquerour. 
That fortune unto swich a fyn thee 

broghte ! 

To Rome ageyn repaireth lulius 3885 
With his triuniphe, laureat ful hye, 
But on a tyme Brutus Cassius, 
That ever hadde of his hye estaat envye, 
Ful prively hath maad conspiracye 
Ageins this lulius, in subtil wyse, 3890 
And cast the place, in vvhiche he sholde 

dye 
With boydekins, as I shal yow devyse. 

This lulius to the Capitolie wente 
UjxMi a day, as he was wont to goon. 



And in the Capitolie anon him 
hente 3895 

This false Brutus, and his othere foon, 
And stikede him with boydekins anoon 
With many a wounde, and thus they lete 

him lye; 
But never gronte he at no strook but 

oon, 
Or elles at two, but-if his storie lye. 3900 

So manly was this lulius at herte 
And so wel lovede estaatly honestee, 
That, though his deedly woundes sore 

smerte. 
His mantel over his hippes casteth he, 
For no man sholde seen his privitee. 3905 
And, as he lay on deying in traunce. 
And wiste vcrraily that deed was he, 
Of honestee yit hadde he remembraunce. 

lAican, to thee this storie 1 rccomende, 
And U) Sweton, and to Valerie also, 39 lO 
That of this storie wrytcn word and ende, 
How that to thise grete conqueroures 

two 
Fortune was first frcend, and sithen fo. 
No man ne truste up-on hir favour longe, 
But have hir in awayt for ever-mo. 3915 
Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures 

stronge. 

Cresus. 

This richc Cresus, whylom king of Lyde, 
Of vvhiche Cresus Cyrus sore him dradde, 
Yit was he caught amiddes al his pryde, 
And to be brent men to the fyr him 

ladde. 3920 

But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne 

shadde 
That slow the fyr, and made him to 

escape ; 
But to be war no grace yet he hadde, 
Til fortune on the galwes made him 

gape. 

Whan he escaped was, he can nat stente 
For to biginne a newe werre agayn. 3926 
He wende wel, for that fortune him 

sente 
Swich hap, that he escaped thurgh the 

rayn. 
That of his foos he mighte nat be slayn; 



3930-3981.] PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE. 



And eek a sweven up-oia a night he 
mette, ' - 3930 

Of which he was so proud and eek so 
fayn, 

That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette. 

Up-on a tree he was, as that him 

thoughte, 
Ther luppiter him wesh, bothe bak and 

syde, 
And Phebus eek a fair tovvaille him 

broughte 3935 

To drye him with, and ther-for wex his 

pryde ; 
And to his doghter, that stood him l)isyde, 
Which that he knew in heigh science 

habounde, 
He bad hir telle him what it signifyde, 
And she his dreem bigan right thus 

expounde. 3940 



'The tree,' quod she, * the galwes is to 

mene. 
And luppiter bitokneth snow and reyn. 

Explicit Tragedia. 



And Phebus, with his towaille so clene, 
Tho ben the sonne stremes for to 

seyn; 
Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, cer- 

teyn; 3945 

Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal 

thee drye; ' 
Thus warned she him ful plat and ful 

pleyn, 
His doughter, which that called was 

Phanye. 

Anhanged was Cresus, the proude king. 
His royal trone niighte him nat 

availle. — 395^ 

Tragedie is noon other maner thing, 
Ne can in singing ci-ye ne biwaille, 
But for that fortune alwey wol assaille 
With unwar strook the regnes that ben 

proude; 
For when men trusteth hir, than wol she 

faille, _ 3955 

And covere hir brighte face with a 

cloude. 



Here stinteth the Knight the Monk of his Tale. 



THE PROLOGUE OF THE NONNE PRESTES TALE. 



The prologue of the Nonne Preestes 
Tale. 

* Ho ! ' quod the knight, * good sir, na- 

more of this. 
That ye han seyd is right y-nough, y-wis, 
And mochel more; for litel hevinesse 
Is right y-nough to mochel folk, I 

gesse. 3960 

I seye for me, it is a greet disese 
Wher-as men han ben in greet welthe 

and ese, 
To heren of hir sodeyn fal, alias ! 
And the contrarie is loie and greet solas. 
As whan a man hath been in povre es- 

taat, 3965 

And clymbeth up, and wexeth fortunat, 
And ther abydeth in prosperitee, 
Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh 

me. 



And of swich thing were goodly for to 

telle.' 
* Ye,' quod our hoste, ' by Seint Poules 

belle, 3970 

Ye seye right sooth; this monk, he 

clappeth loude, 
He spak how " fortune covered with a 

cloude " 
I noot never what, and als of a "Trage- 
die " 
Right now ye herde, and parde ! no rem- 

edie 
It is for to biwaille, ne compleyne 3975 
That that is doon, and als it is a peyne, 
As ye han seyd, to here of hevinesse. 
Sir monk, na-more of this, so god yow 

blesse ! 
Your tale anoyeth al this companye; 
Swich talking is nat worth a boterflye; 
For ther-in is ther no desport ne game. 



[32 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[3982-4036. 



Wherfor, sir Monk, or dan Piers by 

your name, 
I preye yow hertely, telle us somwhat 

elles, 
For sikerly, nere clinking of your belles, 
That on your brydel hange on every 

syde, 3985 

By heven king, that for us alle dyde, 
I sholde er this han fallen doun for slepe. 
Although the slough had never been so 

depe; 
Than had your tale al be told in vayn. 
For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, 
" Wher-as a man may have noon audi- 
ence, 3991 
Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence." 
And wel 1 woot the substance is in me, 
If any thing shal wel reported be. 
Sir, sey somwhat of hunting, I yow 

preye.' 3995 

* Nay,' quod this monk, * I have no lust 

to pleye; 
Now let another telle, as I have told.' 



Than spak our host, with rude speche 

and bold. 
And seyde un-to the Nonnes Freest 

anon, 
* Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou 

sir lohn, 4000 

Tel us swich thing as may our hertes 

glade. 
Be blythe, though thou ryde up-on a 

lade. 
What though thyn hors be bothe foule 

and lene. 
If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene; 
Look that thyn herte be mery evermo.' 
' Yis, sir,' quod he, ' yis, host, so mote I 

go, 4006 

But I be mery, y-wis, I wol be 

blamed : ' — 
And right anon his tale he hath at- 

tamed, 
And thus he seyde un-to us everichon, 
This swete preest, this goodly man, sir 

lohn. 4010 



Explicit. 



THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. 



Here Biginneth the Nonne Preestes 

Tale of the Cok and Hen, Chaun- 

tecleer and Pertelote. 

A POVRE widwe, somdel stape in age, 
Was whylom dwelling in a narwe cot- 
age, 
Bisyde a grove, stonding in a dale. 
This widwe, of which I telle yow my 

tale. 
Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf. 
In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf, 401 6 
For litel was hir catel and hir rente ; 
By housbondrye, of such as God hir 

sente. 
She fond hir-self, and eek hir doghtren 

two. 

Three large sowes hadde she, and namo, 

Three kyn, and eek a sheep that highte 

Malle. 4021 

Ful sooty was hir bour, and eek hir 

halle. 



In which she eet ful many a sclendre 

meel. 
Of poynaunt sauce hir neded never a 

deel. 
No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir 

throte; 4025 

Hir dyete was accordant to hir cote. 
Repleccioun ne made hir never syk; 
.Attempree dyete was al hir phisyk. 
And exercyse, and hertes suffisaunce. 
The goute lette hir no-thing for to 

daunce, 4030 

Napoplexye shente nat hir heed; 
No wyn ne drank she, neither whyt ne 

reed; 
Hir bord was served most with whyt and 

blak. 
Milk and broun breed, in which she fond 

no lak, 
Seynd bacoun, and somtyme an ey or 

tweye, 4^35 

For she was as it were a maner deye. 



4037-4107.] 



B. THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. 



133 



A yerd she hadde, enclosed al aboute 
With stikkes, and a drye dich with-oute, 
In which she hadde a cok, hight Chaunte- 

cleer, 
In all the land of crowing nas his peer. 
His vois was merier than the mery or- 

gon 4041 

On messe-dayes that in the chirche gon; 
Wei sikerer was his crowing in his 

logge, 
Than is a clokke, or an abbey orlogge. 
By nature knew he ech ascencioun 4045 
Of equinoxial in thilke toun; 
For whan degrees fiftene were ascended, 
Thanne crew he, that it mighte nat ben 

amended. 
His comb was redder than the fyn coral, 
And batailed, as it were a castel-wal. 4050 
His bile was blak, and as the leet it 

shoon; 
Lyk asur were his legges, and his toon; 
His nayles whytter than the lilie flour, 
And lyk the burned gold was his colour. 
This gentil cok hadde in his govern- 

aunce 4^5 5 

Sevene hennes, for to doon al his ples- 

aunce, 
Whiche were his sustres and his para- 
mours, 
And wonder lyk to him, as of colours. 
Of whiche the faireste hewed on hir 

throte 
Was cleped faire damoysele Pertelote. 
Curteys she was, discreet, and debon- 

aire, 4061 

And compaignable, and bar hir-self so 

faire, 
Sin thilke day that she was seven night 

old. 
That trewely she hath the herte in hold 
Of Chauntecleer loken in every lith; 
He loved hir so, that wel was him ther- 

with. 4066 

But such a loye was it to here hem 

singe, 
Whan that the brighte sonne gan to 

springe. 
In swete accord, * my lief is faren in 

londe.' 
For thilke tyme, as I have understonde, 
Bestes and briddes coude speke and 

singe. 4071 

And so bifel, that in a daweninge, 



As Chauntecleer among hi^ wyves alle 
Sat on his perche, that was in the halle, 
And next him sat this faire Pertelote, 
This Chauntecleer gan gronen in his 

throte, 4076 

As man that in his dreem is drecched 

sore. 
And whan that Pertelote thus herde him 

rore. 
She was agast, and seyde, * O herte dere, 
What eyleth yow, to grone in this 

manere? 4080 

Ye been a verray sleper, fy for shame ! ' 
And he answerde and seyde thus, 

* madame, 
I pray yow, that ye take it nat a-grief : 
By god, me mette I was in swich mes- 

chief 
Right now, that yet myn herte is sore 

afright. 4085 

Now god,' quod he, ' my swevene recche 

aright. 
And keep my body out of foul prisoun ! 
Me mette, how that I romed up and 

doun 
Withinne our yerde, wher-as I saugh a 

beste. 
Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad 

areste 4090 

Upon my body, and wolde han had me 

deed. 
His colour was bitwixe yelwe and reed; 
And tipped was his tail, and bothe his 

eres, 
With blak, unlyk the remenant of his 

heres; 
His snowte smal, with glowinge eyen 

tweye. 4095 

Yet of his look for fere almost I deye; 
This caused me my groning, doutelees.' 
' Avoy ! ' quod she, ' fy on yow, herte- 

lees! 
Alias ! ' quod she, * for, by that god above, 
Now han ye lost myn herte and al my 

love; 4100 

I can nat love a coward, by my feith. 
For certes, what so any womman seith. 
We alle desyren, if it mighte be, 
To han housbondes hardy, wyse, and 

free. 
And secree, and no nigard, ne no fool, 
Ne him that is agast of every tool, 4106 
Ne noon avauntour, by that god above ! 



34 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4 1 08-4 1 8 7. 



How dorste ye seyn for shame unto your 

love, 
That any thing mighte make yow aferd? 
Have ye no mannes herte, and han a 

herd? 4110 

Alias ! and conne ye been agast of 

svvevenis? 
No-thing, god wot, but vanitee, in sweven 

is. 
Swevenes engendren of replecciouns. 
And ofte of fume, and of complecciouns, 
Whan humours been to habundant in a 

wight. 41 15 

Certes this dreem, which ye han met to- 
night, 
Cometh of the grete superfluitee 
Of youre rede colera, pardee, 
Which causeth folk to dreden in here 

dremes 
Of arwes, and of fyr with rede lemes, 
Of grete bestes, that they wol hem 

byte, 41 2 1 

Of contek, and of whelpes grete and 

lyte; 
Right as the humour of malencolye 
Causeth ful many a man, in sleep, to crye, 
For fere of blake beres, or boles 

blake, 4125 

Or elles, blake develes wole hem take. 
Of othere humours coude I telle also, 
That werken many a man in sleep ful wo; 
But I wol passe as lightly as I can. 

Lo Catoun, which that was so wys a 

man, 4130 

Seyde he nat thus, ne do no fors of 

dremes? 
Now, sire,' quod she, * whan we flee fro 

the hemes. 
For Goddes love, as tak som laxatyf; 
Up peril of my soule, and of my lyf, 
I counseille yow the beste, I wol nat 

lye, 4135 

That bothe of colere and of malencolye 
Ye purge yow; and for ye shul na^tarie, 
Though in this toun is noon apotecarie, 
I shal my-3elf to herbes techen yow. 
That shul ben for your hele, and for your 

prow; 4140 

And in our yerd tho herbes shal I finde. 
The whiche han of hir propretee, by 

kinde. 
To purgen yow binethe, and eek above. 
Forget not this, fur goddes ovvene love ! 



Ye been ful colerik of compleccioun. 4145 ■ 
Ware the sonne in his ascencioun ■ 

Ne fynde yow nat repleet of humours " 

hote; 
And if it do, I dar wel leye a grote. 
That ye shul have a fevere terciane. 
Or an agu, that may be youre bane. 4150 
A day or two ye shul have digestyves 
Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves, 
Of lauriol, centaure, and fumetere, , 

Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there, I 
Of catapuce, or of gaytres beryis, 4155 -. 
Of erbe yve, growing in our yerd, that 

mery is; 
Pekke hem up right as they growe, and 

etc hem in. 
Be mery, housbond, for your fader kin ! 
Dredeth no dreem; I can say yow na- 

more.' 
* Madame,* quod he, *■ grawit mercy of 

your lore. ■- 4160 

But nathelees, as touching daun Catoun, 
That hath of wisdom such a greet renoun, 
Though that he bad no dremes for to 

drede. 
By god, men may in olde bokes rede 
Of many a man, more of auctoritee 4165 
Than ever Catoun was, so mote I thee, 
Than al the revers seyn of his sentence, 
And han wel founden by experience. 
That dremes ben significaciouns. 
As wel of loye as tribulaciouns 4170 
That folk enduren in this lyf present. 
Ther nedeth make of this noon argu- . 

ment; 
The verray preve sheweth it in dede. 
Oon of the gretteste auctours that 

men rede 
Seith thus, that whylom two felawes 

wente 4175 

On pilgrimage, in a ful good entente; 
And happed so, thay come into a toun, 
Wher-as ther was swich congregacioun 
Of peple, and eek so streit of herbergage, 
That they ne founde as muche as o 

cotage, 4180 

In which they bothe mighte y-logged be. 
Wherfor thay mosten, of necessitee, 
As for that night, departen compaignye; 
And ech of hem goth to his hostelrye. 
And took his logging as it wolde falle. 
That oon of hem was logged in a stalle, 
Fer in a yerd, with oxen of the plough; 



4188-4268.] 



B. THE NONNE TREESTES TALE 



135 



That other man was logged wel y-nough, 
As was his aventure, or his fortune, 
That us governeth allc as in commune. 
And so bifel, that, longe er it were 
, clay, 4191 

This man mette in his bed, ther-as he lay. 
How that his felawe gan up-on him calle, 
And seyde, * alias ! for in an oxes stalle 
This night I shal be mordred ther I 

lye. 4195 

Now help me, dere brother, er I dye; 
In alle haste com to me,' he sayde. 
This man out of his sleep for fere 

abrayde; 
But whan that he was wakned of his 

sleep. 
He turned him, and took of this no 

keep; 4200 

Him thoughte his dreem nas but a vanitee. 
Thus tvvyes in his sleping dremed he. 
And atte thridde tyme yet his felawe 
Cam, as him thoughte, and seide, ' I am 

now slawe; 
Bihold my blody woundes, depe and 

wyde ! 4205 

Arys up erly in the morwe-tyde, 
And at the west gate of the toun,' quod 

he, 
' A carte ful of donge ther shaltow see. 
In whicli my body is hid ful prively; 
Do thilke carte aresten boldely. 4210 
My gold caused my mordre, sooth to 

sayn ; ' 
And tolde him every poynt how he was 

slayn, 
With a ful pitous face, pale of hewe. 
And truste wel, his dreem he fond ful 

trewe; 
For on the morwe, as sone as it was day. 
To his felawes in he took tlie way; 4216 
And whan that he cam to this oxes stalle, 
After his felawe he bigan to calle. 

The hostiler answered him anon, 
And seyde, ' sire, your felawe is agon, 4220 
As sone as day he wente out of the toun.' 
This man gan fallen in suspecioun, 
Remembring on his dremes that he mette. 
And forth he goth, no lenger wolde he 

lette, 
Unto the west gate of the toun, and 



fond 



4225 



A dong-carte, as it were to donge lond. 
That was arrayed in the same wyse 



As ye han herd the dede man devyse; 
And with an hardy herte he gan to crye 
Vengeaunce and Justice of this fel- 
onye : — 4230 

* My felawe mordred is this same night, 
And in this carte he lyth gapinge upright. 
I crye out on the ministres,' quod he, 

* That sholden kepe and reulen this citee; 
Harrow! alias! her lyth my felawe 

slayn ! ' 4235 

\yhat sholde I more un-to this tale sayn? 
The peple out-sterte, and caste the cart 

to grounde. 
And in the middel of the dong they 

founde 

The dede man, that mordred was al newe. 

O blisful god, that art so lust and 

trewe ! 4240 

Lo, how that thou biwreyest mordre 

alway ! 
Mordre wol out, that see we day by day. 
Mordre is so wlatsom and abhominable 
To god, that is so lust and resonable. 
That he ne wol nat suftVe it heled be ; 4245 
Though it abyde a yeer, or two, or three, 
Mordre wol out, this my conclusioun. 
And right anoon, ministres of that toun 
Han hent the carter, and so sore him 

pyned. 
And eek the hostiler so sore engyned, 4250 
That thay biknewe hir wikkednesse 

anoon, 
And were an-hanged by the nekke-boon. 
Here may men seen that dremes been 
to drede. 
And certes, in the same book I rede. 
Right in the nexte chapitre after this, 4255 
(I gabbe nat, so have I loye or blis,) 
Two men that wolde han passed over see, 
For certeyn cause, in-to a fer contree. 
If that the wind ne hadde been contrarie, 
That made hem in a citee for to 
tarie, 4260 

That stood ful mery upon an haven-syde. 
But on a day, agayn the even-tyde. 
The wind gan chaunge, and blew right as 

hem leste. 
lohf and glad they wente un-to hir reste. 
And casten hem ful erly for to saille; 4265 
But to that 00 man fil a greet mervaille. 
That oon of hem, in sleping as he lay, 
Him mette a wonder dreem, agayn the 
day; 



I -.6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4269-4346. 



Him thoughte a man stood by his beddes 

syde, 
And him comaunded, that he sholde 

abyde, 4270 

And seyde him thus, * if thou to-morwe 

wende, 
Thou shalt be dreynt; my tale is at an 

ende.' 
He wook, and tolde his felawe what he 

mette, 
And preyde him his viage for to lette; 
As for that day, he preyde him to 

abyde. 4^75 

His felawe, that lay by his beddes syde, 
Gan for to laughe, and scorned him ful 

faste. 
* No dreem,' quod he, ' may so myn herte 

agaste, 
That I wol lette for to do my thinges. 
I sette not a straw by thy dreminges, 4280 
For swevenes been but vaniteesand lapes. 
Men dreme al-day of owles or of apes, 
And eke of many a mase therwithal; 
Men dreme of thing that nevere was ne 

shal. 
But sith I see that thou wolt heer 

abyde, 4285 

And thus for-sleuthen wilfully thy tyde, 
God wot it reweth me; and have good 

day.' 
And thus he took his leve, and wente his 

way. 
But er that he hadde halfe his cours 

y-seyled, 
Noot I nat why, ne what mischaunce it 

eyled, 4290 

But casuelly the shippes botme rente, 
And ship and man under the water wente 
In sighte of othere shippes it byside, 
That with hem seyled at the same tyde. 
And therfor, faire Pertelote so dere, 4295 
By swiche ensamples olde maistow lere, 
That no man sholde been to recchelees 
Of dremes, for I sey thee, doutelees, 
That many a dreem ful sore is for to drede. 
Lo, in the lyf of seint Kenelm, I 

rede, 4300 

That was Kenulphus sone, the noble 

king 
Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a 

thing; 
A lyte er he was mordred, on a day, 
His mordre in his avisioun he say. 



His norice him expounded every del 4305 
His sweven, and bad him for to kepe 

him wel 
For traisoun; but he nas but seven yeei 

old, 
And therfore litel tale hath he told 
Of any dreem, so holy vvas his herte. 
By god, I hadde lever than my sherte 4310 
That ye had rad his legend e, as have I. 
Dame Pertelote, I sey yow trewely, 
Macrobeus, that writ the avisioun 
In Affrike of the wortliy Cipioun, 
Affermeth dremes, and seith that they 

been 4315 

Warning of thinges that men after seen. 

And forther-more, I pray yow loketh 

wel 
In the olde testament, of Daniel, 
If he held dremes any vanitee. 
Reed eek of loseph, and ther shul ye 

see 4320 

Wher dremes ben somtyme (I sey nat 

alle) 
Warning of thinges that shul after falle. 
Loke of Egipt the king, daun Pharao, 
Plis bakere and his boLeler also, 
Wher they ne felte noon effect in 

dremes. 4325 

Who-so wol seken actes of sondry remes, 

May rede of dremes many a wonder thing. 

Lo Cresus, which that was of Lyde 

king, 
Mette he nat that he sat upon a tree, 
Which signilied he sholde anhanged 

be? 4330 

Lo heer Andromacha, Ectores wyf, 
That day that Ector sholde lese his lyf. 
She dremed on the same night biforn. 
How that the lyf of Ector sholde be 

lorn. 
If thilke day he wente in-to bataille; 4335 
She warned him, but it mighte nat availle; 
He wente for to fighte nathelees, 
But he was slayn anoon of Achilles. 
But thilke tale is al to long to telle, 
And eek it is ny day, I may nat dvvelle. 
Shortly I seye, as for conclusioun, 434I 
That I shal han of this avisioun 
Adversitce; and I seye forther-more, 
That I ne telle of laxatyves no store, 
l*br they ben venimous, I woot it 

wel; 4345 

I hem defye, I love hem never a del. 



4347-4426.] 



B. THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. 



137 



Now let us speke of mirthe, and stinte 

al this; 
Madame Pertelote, so have I blis, 
Of o thing god hath sent me large grace; 
For whan I see the beautee of your 

face, 4350 

Ye ben so scarlet-reed about your yen, 
It maketh al my drede for to dyen; 
P'or, also siker as In principiOy 
Mtilier est hominis confusio ; 4354 

Madame, the sentence of this Latin is — 
Womman is mannes loye and al his blis. 
For whan I fele a-night your softe syde, 
Al-be-it that I may nat on you ryde, 
For that our perche is maad so narwe, 

alas ! 
I am so ful of loye and of solas 4360 
That I defye bothe sweven and dreem.' 
And with that word he fley doun fro the 

beem, 
For it was day, and eek his hennes alle; 
And with a chuk he gan hem for to 

calle, 
For he had founde a corn, lay in the 

yerd. 4365 

Royal he was, he was namore aferd; 
He fethered Pertelote twenty tyme, 
And trad as ofte, er that it was pryme. 
He loketh as it were a grim leoun; 
And on his toos he rometh up and doun, 
Him deyned not to sette his foot to 

grounde. 4371 

He chukketh, whan he hath a corn 

y-founde, 
And to him rennen thanne his wyvcs 

alle. 
Thus royal, as a prince is in his halle, 
Leve I this Chauntecleer in his pasture; 
And after wol I telle his aventure. 4376 
Whan that the month in which the 

world bigan, 
That highte March, whan god first maked 

man. 
Was complet, and [y]-passed were also, 
Sin March bigan, thritty dayes and two, 
Bifel thar Chauntecleer, in al his pryde, 
His seven wyves walking by his syde. 
Caste up his eyen to the brighte Sonne, 
That in the signe of Taurus hadde y-ronne 
Twenty degrees and oon, and somwhat 

more; 43^5 

And knew by kynde, and by noon other 

lore, 



That it was pryme, and crew with blisful 

stevene. 
* The Sonne,' he sayde, * is clomben up on 

hevene 
Fourty degrees and oon, and more, y-wis. 
Madame Pertelote, my worldes blis, 
Herkneth thise blisful briddes how they 

singe, 4391 

And see the fresshe floures how they 

springe; 
Ful is myn herte of revel and solas.' 
But sodeinly him fil a sorweful cas; 
For ever the latter ende of loye is wo. 
God woot that worldly loye is sone 

ago; _ 4396 

And if a rethor coude faire endyte, 
He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte. 
As for a sovereyn notabilitee. 
Now every wys man, lat him herkne me; 
This storie is al-so trewe, I undertake. 
As is the book of Launcelot de Lake, 
That wommen holde in ful gret rever- 
ence. 
Now wol I torne agayn to my sentence. 

A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee, 4405 
That in the grove hadde woned yeres 

three, 
By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast. 
The same night thrugh-out the hegges 

brast 
Into the yerd, ther Chauntecleer the 

faire 
Was wont, and eek his wyves, to re- 

paire; 44io 

And in a bed of wortes stille he lay. 
Til it was passed undern of the day, 
Wayting his tyme on Chauntecleer to 

falle, 
As gladly doon thise homicydes alle, 
That in awayt liggen to mordre men. 
O false mordrer, lurking in thy den ! 
O newe Scariot, newe Genilon ! 44>7 
False dissimilour, O Greek Sinon, 
That broghtest Troye al outrely to sorwe ! 
O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe, 
That thou into that yerd flough fro the 

hemes! 4421 

Thou vi'ere ful wel y-warned by thy 

dremes, 
That thilke day was perilous to thee. 
But what that god forwoot mot nedes be, 
After the opinioun of certeyn clerkis. 
Witncsse on him, that any perfit clerk is, 



[38 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4427-4504. 



That in scole is grct altcrcacioun 4426 
In this matcrc, and j^rect disputisoun, 
And hath ben of an hundred thousand 

men. 
But I ne can not l)ulte it to the l)ren, 
As can the holy doctour Augustyn, 4431 
Or Boece, or the Ijishop Bradvvardyn, 
Whether that goddes worthy forwiting 
Streyneth me nedely for to doon a thing, 
(Nedely clepc 1 simple necessitee) ; 
Or elles, if free choys be graunted me 
To do that same thing, or do it noght. 
Though god forwoot it, er that it was 

wroght; 
Or if his witing streyneth nevere a del 
But by necessitee condicionel. 4440 

I wol not han to do of swich matere; 
My tale is of a cok, as ye may here, 
That took his counseil of his wyf, with 

sorwe, 
To walken in the yerd upon that morwe 
That he had met the dreem, that I yow 

tolde. 4445 

Wommennes counseils been ful ofte 

colde; 
Wommannes counseil broghte us first to 

wo. 
And made Adam fro paradys to go, 
Ther-as he was ful mery, and wel at ese. 
But for I noot, to whom it mighte dis- 

plt'se, 4550 

If I counseil of wommen wolde blame. 
Passe over, for I seyde it in my game. 
Rede auctours, wher they trete of swich 

matere, 
And what thay seyn of wommen ye may 

here. 
Thise been the cokkes wordes, and nat 

myne; 4455 

I can noon harm of no womman divyne. 

Faire in the sond, to bathe hir merily, 

Lyth Pertelote, and alle hir sustres by, 

Agayn the sonne; and Chauntecleer so 

free 
Song merier than the mermayde in the 

see ; 4460 

For Phisiologus seith sikerly. 
How that theysingen wel and merily. 
And so bifel that, as he caste his ye, 
Among the wortes, on a boterflye. 
He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe. 
No-thing ne liste him thanne for to 

crowe, 446G 



But cryde anon, * cok, cok,' and up he 

sterte, 
As man that was affrayed in his herte. 
For naturelly a beest desyreth flee 
Fro his c(jntrarie, if he may it see, 4470 
Though he never erst had seyn it with 

his ye. 
This Chauntecleer, whan he gan him 

espye. 
He wolde han fled, but that the fox anon 
Seyde, * Gentil sire, alias ! wher wol ye 

gon? 
Be ye affrayed of me that am your 

freend? 4475 

Now certes, I were worse than a feend, 
If I to yow wolde harm or vileinye. 
I am nat come your counseil for tespye; 
But trewcly, the cause of my cominge 
Was only for to herkne how that ye 

singe. 4480 

For trewely ye have as mery a stevene 
As eny aungel hath, that is in hevene; 
Therwith ye han in musik more felinge 
Than hadde Boece, or any that can 

singe. 
My lord your fader (god his soule 

blesse!) _ 44^5 

And eek your moder, of hir gentilesse, 
Han in myn hous y-been, to my gret 

ese; 
And certes, sire, ful fayn wolde I yow 

plese. 
But for men spcke of singing, I wol saye, 
So mote 1 Ijrouke wel myn eyen tweye. 
Save yow, I herde never man so singe, 
As dide your fader iTi the morvveninge; 
Certes, it was of lierte, al that he song. 
And for to make his voys the more 

strong, 
He wolde so peyne him, that with bothe 

his yen 4495 

He moste winke, so loude he wolde 

cryen. 
And stondcn on his tiptoon ther-with-al. 
And strecche forth his nekke long and 

smal. 
And eek he was of swich discrecioun, 
That ther nas no man in no regioun 
That him in song or wisdom mighte 

passe. 45°^ 

I have wel rad in daun Burnel the Asse, 
Among his vers, how that ther was a cok, 
I'or that a i)rcestcs bone yaf him a knok 



4505-4576-1 



THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. 



139 



Upon his leg, whyl he was yong and 

nyce, 4505 

He made him for to lese his benefyce. 
But certeyn, ther nis no comparisoun 
Bitwix the wisdom and discrecioun 
Of youre fader, and of his subtiltee. 
Now singeth, sire, for seinte Charitee, 
Let see, conne ye your fader countre- 

fete ? ' 45 1 1 

This Chauntecleer his winges gan to 

bete, 
As man that coude his tresoun nat 

espye, 
So was he ravisshed with his flaterye. 

Alias ! ye lordes, many a fals flatour 
Is in your courtes, and many a losen- 

geour, 4516 

That plesen yow wel more, by my feith, 
Than he that soothfastnesse unto yow 

seith. 
Redeth Ecclesiaste of flaterye; 
Beth war, ye lordes, of hir trecherye. 4520 
This Chauntecleer stood hye up-on his 

toos, 
Strecching his nekke, and heeld his eyen 

cloos, 
And gan to crowe loude for the nones; 
And daun Russel the fox sterte up at 

ones. 
And by the gargat hente Chauntecleer, 
And on his bak toward the wode him 

beer, 4526 

For yet ne was ther no man that him 

sewed. 
O destinee, that mayst nat been es- 
chewed ! 
Alias, that Chauntecleer fleigh fro the 

hemes ! 
Alias, his wyf ne roghte nat of dremes ! 
And on a Friday lil al this mes- 

chaunce. 4531 

O Venus, that art goddcsse of plesaunce, 
Sin that thy servant was this Chaunte- 
cleer, 
And in thy service dide al his poweer. 
More for delyt, than world to multiplyc, 
Why woldestow suffre him on thy day to 

dye? 4536 

O Gaufred, dere mayster soverayn. 
That, whan thy worthy king Richard was 

slayn 
With shot, compleyncdcst his deth so 

sore. 



Why ne hadde I now thy sentence and 

thy lore, 4540 

The Friday for to chyde, as diden ye? 
(For on a Friday soothly slayn was he.) 
Than wolde I shewe yow how that I 

coude pleyne 
For Chauntecleres drede, and for his 

peyne. 
Certes, swich crynelamentacioun 4545 
Was never of ladies maad, whan Ilioun 
W^as wonne, and Pirrus with his streite 

swerd, 
Whan he hadde hent king Priam by the 

herd. 
And slayn him (as saith us Encyaos), 
As maden alle the henncs in the clos, 4550 
Whan they had seyn of Chauntecleer the 

sighte. 
But sovereynly dame Pcrtelote shrighte, 
Ful louder than dide Uasdrubales wyf, 
Whan that hir housbond hadde lost his 

And that the Romayns hadde brend 

Cartage; 4555 

She was so ful of torment and of rage, 
That wilfully into the fyr she sterte, 
And brende hir-selven with a stedfast 

herte. 
O woful hennes, right so cryden ye. 
As, whan that Nero brende the citee 4560 
Of Rome, cryden senatoures wyves, 
For that hir housbondes losten alle hir 

lyves; 
Withouten gilt this Nero hath hem slayn. 
Now wol I torne to my tale agayn : — 
This sely widwe, and eek hir doghtres 

two, 4565 

Herden thise henncs crye and makcn wo, 
And out at dores sterten they anoon. 
And syen the fox toward the grove goon, 
And bar upon his bak the cok away; 
And cryden, ' Out ! harrow ! and weyla- 

way ! 4570 

Ha, ha, the fox!' and after him they 

ran. 
And eek with staves many another man; 
Ran Colle our dogge, and Talipot, and 

Gerland, 
And Malkin, with a distaf in hir hand; 
Ran cow and calf, and eek the verray 

hogges 4575 

So were they fered for berking of the 

dogges 



I40 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[4577-4636. 



And shouting of the men and wimmen 

eke, 
They ronne so, hem thoughte hir herte 

breke. 
They yelleden as feendes doon in helle; 
The dokes cryden as men wolde hem 

quelle; 4580 

The gees for fere flowen over the trees; 
Out of the hyve cam the swarm of bees; 
So hidous was the noyse, a ! henedicite ! 
Certes, he lakke Straw, and his meynee, 
Ne made never shoutes half so shrille. 
Whan that they wolden any Fleming 

kille, 4586 

As thilke day was maad upon the fox. 
Of bras thay broghten hemes, and of box. 
Of horn, of boon, in whiche they blewe 

and pouped. 
And therwithal thay shryked and they 

houped; 4590 

It semed as that heven sholde falle. 
Now, gode men, I pray yow herkneth 

alle! 
Lo, how fortune turneth sodeinly 
The hope and pryde eek of hir enemy ! 
This cok, that lay upon the foxes bak, 
In al his drede, un-to the fox he 

spak, 4596 

And seyde, 'sire, if that I were as ye, 
Yet sholde I seyn (as wis god helpe 

me), 
Turneth agayn, ye proude cherles alle ! 
A verray pestilence up-on yow falle ! 4600 
Now am I come un-to this wodes syde, 
Maugree your heed, the cok shal heer 

abyde; 
I wol him ete in feith, and that anon.' — 
The fox answerde, ' in feith, it shal be 

don,' — 
And as he spak that word, al sodeinly 
This cok brak from his mouth de- 

liverly, 4606 

And heighe up-on a tree he fleigh anon. 



And whan the fox saugh that he was 

y-gon, 
' Alias ! ' quod he, ' O Chauntecleer, 

alias ! 
I have to yow,' quod he, * y-doon tres- 

pas, 4610 

In-as-muche as I maked yow aferd, 
Whan I yow hente, and broghte out of 

the yerd; 
But, sire, I dide it in no wikke entente; 
Com doun, and I shal telle yow what I 

mente. 
I shal seye sooth to yow, god help me 

so.' 4615 

' Nay than,' quod he, * I shrewe us bothe 

two. 
And first I shrewe my-self, bothe blood 

and bones. 
If thou bigyle me ofter than ones. 
Thou shalt na-more, thurgh thy flaterye, 
Do me to singe and winke with myn ye. 
For he that winketh, whan he sholde 

see, 4621 

Al wilfully, god lat him never thee ! ' 
' Na,' quod the fox, * but god yeve him 

meschaunce. 
That is so undiscreet of governaunce, 
That langleth whan he sholde holde his 

pees.' 4625 

Lo, swich it is for to be recchelees. 
And necligent, and truste on flaterye. 
But ye that holden this tale a folye, 
As of a fox, or of a cok and hen, 
Taketh the moralitee, good men. 4630 
For seint Paul seith, that al that writen is. 
To our doctryne it is y-write, y-wis. 
Taketh the fruyt, and lat the chaf be 

stille. 
Now, gode god, if that it be thy wille, 
As seith my lord, so make us alle good 

men; 4635 

And bringe us to his heighe blisse. 

Amen. 



Here is ended the Nonne Preesies Tale. 



4637-4652. 1-42.] 



C. THE PillSICIENS TALE. 



141 



EPILOGUE TO THE NONNE PREESTES TALE. 



* Sir Nonnes Freest,' our hoste seyde 

anoon, 
'Y-blessed be thy breche, and every 

stoon ! 
This was a mery tale of Chauntecleer. 
But, by my trouthe, if thou were secu- 

ler, 4640 

Thou woldest been a trede-foul a-right 
For, if thou have corage as thou hast 

might, 
Thee were nede of hennes, as I wene, 
Ya, mo than seven tymes seventene. 



See, whiche braunes hath this gentil 

Freest, 4645 

So greet a nekke, and swich a large 

breest ! 
He loketh as a sperhauk with his yen; 
Him nedeth nat his colour for to dyen 
With brasil, ne with greyn of Portin- 

gale. 
Now sire, faire falle yow for youre 

tale ! ' 4650 

And after that he, with ful mery chere, 
Seide to another, as ye shuUeii here. 



GROUP C. 
THE PHISICIENS TALE. 



Here folweth the Phisiciens Tale. 

Ther was, as telleth Titus Livius, 
A knight that called was Virginius, 
Fultild of honour and of vvorthinesse, 
And strong of freendes and of greet 

richesse. 
This knight a doghter hadde by his 

wyf, ^ 5 

No children hadde he mo in al his lyf. 
Fair was this mayde in excellent beautee 
Aboven every wight that man may see; 
For nature hath with sovereyn diligence 
Y-formed hir in so greet excellence, 10 
As though she wolde seyn, ' lo ! I, Na- 
ture, 
Thus can I forme and peynte a creature, 
Whan that me list; who can me countre- 

ft-te? 
Figmalion noght, though he ay forge and 

bete. 
Or grave, or peynte; for I dar wel 

seyn, 15 

Apelles, Zanzis, sholde werche in veyn, 
Outher to grave or peynte or forge or 

bete, 
If they presumed me to countrefete. 
For he that is the former principal 
Hath maked me his vicaire general, 20 
To forme and peynten erthely creaturis 



Right as me list, and ech thing in my 

cure is 
Under the mone, that may wane and 

waxe. 
And for my werk right no-thing wol I 

axe; 
My lord and I ben ful of oon accord ; 25 
I made hir to the worship of my lord. 
So do I alle myne othere creatures, 
What colour that they han, or what 

figures.' — 
Thus semeth me that Nature wolde seye. 
Tliis mayde of age twelf yeer was and 

tweye, 30 

In which that Nature hadde swich delyt. 
For right as she can peynte a lilie whyt 
And reed a rose, right with swich peyn- 

ture 
She peynted hath this noble creature 
Er she were born, up-on hir limes 

free, 35 

Wher-as by right swiche colours sholde 

be; 
And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete 
Lyk to the stremes of his burned hete. 
And if that excellent was hir beautee, 
A thousand- fold more vertuous was 

she. 40 

In hir ne lakked no condicioun, 
That is to preyse, as by discreciuun. 



142 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[43-122. 



As wel in goost as Ijody chast was she; 
For which she floured in virginitee 
With alle humilitee and abstinence, 45 
With alle altemperaunee and pacicnee, 
With mesure eek (jf bering and array. 
Discreet she was in answering alway; 
Though she were wys as Tallas, dar I 

seyn, 
llir facound eek ful wommanly and 

pleyn, 50 

No countrefeted termes hadde she 
To seme wys; ])ut after hir degree 
She spak, and alle hir wordes more and 

lesse 
Souninge in vertu and in gentillesse. 
Shamfast she was in maydens shamfast- 

nesse, 55 

Constant in herte, and ever in bisincsse 
To dryvc hir out of ydel slogardye. 
Jiacus hadde of hir mouth right no mais- 

tryc; 
J'or wyn and youthe doon Venus encrece, 
As men in fyr wol casten oile or 

grcce. 60 

And of hir owene vertu, unconstreyncd, 
She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned, 
For that she wolde fleen the companye 
Wher lykly was to treten of fc^lyc, 
As is at festes, revels, and at daunces, 65 
That been (;ccasi(;ns of daliaunces. 
Swich thinges maken children for to be 
To sone rype and bold, as men may see, 
Which is ful perilous, and hath ben yore. 
For al to sone may she lerne lore 70 

Of boldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf. 

And ye maistresses in your olde lyf, 
That lordes doghlres han in g<w- 

ernaunce, 
Ne taketh of my wordes no disples- 

aunce; 
Thenketh that ye ben set in govern- 

inges 75 

Of lordes doghters, only f(jr two thinges; 
(Juther for ye han kept ytmr honestee. 
Or elles ye han falle in freletee. 
And knowen wel y-nough the olde 

daunce, 
And han forsaken fully swich mes- 

chaunce 80 

For evermo; therfore, for Cristes sake, 
To teche hem vertu loke that ye ne 

slake. 
A theef of venisoun, that hath forlaft 



His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft, 
Can kepe a forest best of any man. 85 
Now kepeth hem wel, for if ye wol, ye 

can; 
Loke wel that ye un-to no vice assente, 
Lest ye be dampned for your wikke en- 
tente; 
For who-so doth, a traitour is certeyn. 
And taketh kepe of that that I shal 

seyn; 90 

Of alle tresons sovereyn pestilence 
Is whan a wight bitrayscth innocence. 

Ye fadres and ye niodres eek also, 
Though ye han cliildren, be it oon or 

two, 
Your is the charge of al hir surveyaunce, 
Whyl that they been under your gov- 

ernaunce. 
Beth war that by ensample of your liv- 

inge, 97 

Or by your necligence in chastisinge, 
That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye, 
If that they doon, ye shul it derc abeye. 
Under a shepherde softe and necligent 
The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb 

to-rent. 
Suffyseth oon ensample now as here, 
For I mot turne agayn to my matere. 
This mayde, of which I wol this tale 

expresse, 105 

So kepte hir-self, hir neded no mais- 

tresse; 
For in hir living maydens mighten rede, 
As in a book, every good word or dede, 
That hjngeth to a mayden vertuous ; 109 
She was so j)rudent and so bountevous. 
For which the fame out-sprong on every 

syde 
Bothe of hir beautee and hir bountec 

wyde ; 
That thurgh that land they preysed hir 

echone. 
That loved vertu, save envye allone, 
That sory is of other mennes wele, 1 15 
And glad is of his sorwe and his unhele ; 
(The doctour maketh this dcscripcioun). 
This mayde up-on a day wente in the 

toun 
Toward a temple, with hir moder dere, 
As is of yonge maydens the manere. 120 
Now was ther thanne a lustice in that 

toun. 
That governour was of that regioun. 



123-201.] 



C. THE PIIISICIENS TALE. 



143 



And so bifcl, this luge his eyen caste 
Up-on this mayde, avysinge him ful 

faste, 1 24 

As she cam forby ther this luge stood. 
Anon his herte chaunged and his mood, 
So was lie caught with beautee of tliis 

mayde ; 
And to him-sclf ful prively he sayde, 
• This mayde shal be myn, for any man.' 

Anon the feend in-to his herte ran, 
And taughte him sodeynly, that he by 

slighte 131 

The mayden to his purpos winne mightc. 
For certes, by no force, ne by no mede, 
Him thoughte, he was nat able for to 

spede ; 
For she was strong of freendes, and eek 

she 135 

Confcrmcd was in swich soverayn bountee, 
That wel he wiste he mighte hir never 

winne 
As for to make hir with hir body sinne. 
For which, by greet delibcracioun, 139 
He sente after a cherl, was in the toun, 
Which that he knew for subtil and for 

bold. 
This luge un-to this cherl his tale hath 

told 
In secree wyse, and made him to ensure, 
He sholde telle it to no creature, 144 
And if he dide, he sholde lose his heed. 
Whan that assented was this cursed reed, 
Glatl was this luge and maked him greet 

chere, 
And yaf hym yiftes preciousc and dere. 
Whan shapen was al hir conspiracye 
Fro point to point, how that his lecherye 
Parfourned sholde been ful subtilly, 151 
As ye shul here it after openly, 
Hoom gooth the cherl, that highte Clau- 
dius. 
This false luge that highte Apius, 154 
So was his name, (for this is no fal)le. 
But knowen for historial thing notable. 
The sentence of it sooth is, out of doute), 
This false luge gooth now faste aboute 
To hasten his delyt al that he may. 
And so bifel sone after, on a day, 160 
This false luge, as telleth us the storie, 
As he was wont, sat in his consistorie, 
And yaf his domes up-on sondry cas. 
This false cherl cam forth a ful greet 

pas, 164 



And seyde, * lord, if that it be your wille, 
As dooth me right up-on this pitous 

bille, 
In which I pleyne up-on Virginius. 
And if that he wol seyn it is nat thus, 
I wol it preve, and linde good witnesse. 
That sooth is that my l)ille wol expresse.' 
The luge answerde, 'of this, in his 

absence, 171 

I may nat yeve difflnitif sentence. 
Lat do him calle, ami I wol gladly here ; 
Thou shalt have al right, and no wrong 

here.' 
Virginius cam, to wite the luges wille, 
And right anon was rad this cursed 

bille ; 176 

The sentence of it was as ye shul here. 
' To yow, my lord, sire Apius so dere, 
Sheweth your povre servant Claudius, 
How that a knight, called Virginius, iSo 
Agayns the lawe, agayn al equitce, 
Holdcth, expres agayn the wil of me, 
My servant, which that is my thral by 

right. 
Which fro myn hous was stole up-on a 

night, 
Whyl that she was ful yong ; this wol I 

preve 185 

By witnesse, lord, so that it nat yow 

greve. 
She nis his doghter nat, what so he 

seye ; 
Wherfore to yow, my lord the luge, I 

preye, 
Yeld me my thral, if that it ])e your 

wille.' 
Lo ! this was al the sentence of his 

bille. 190 

Virginius gan up-on the cherl biholde, 
But hastily, er he his tale tolde. 
And wolde have preved it, as sholde a 

knight. 
And eek by witnessing of many a wight, 
That it was fals that seyde his adversaria, 
This cursed luge wolde no-thing tarie, 
Ne here a word more of Virginius, 197 
But yaf his lugement, and seyde thus: — 
' I deme anon this cherl his servant 

have ; 
Thou shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir 

save. 200 

Go bring hir forth, and put hir in our 

warde. 



144 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[202-275. 



The cherl shal have his thral, tliis I 

awardc' 
And whan this worthy knight Vir- 
ginias, 
Thurgh sentence of this Justice Apius, 
Moste by force his dere doghter yiven 
Un-to the luge, in lecherye to liven, 206 
He gooth him hoom, and sette him in 

his halle. 
And leet anon his dere doghter calle, 
And, with a face deed as asshen C(;lde, 
Upon hir huml^le face he gan biholde, 
With fadres pitec stiking thurgh his 

herte, 211 

Al wolde he from his purpos nat con- 

verte. 
' Doghter,' quod he, ' Virginia, by thy 

name, 
Ther been two wcyes, outher deeth or 

shame, 
Tiiat thou most suffre ; alias ! that I was 

bore! 215 

For never thou deservedest wherfore 
To dyen with a swerd or with a knyf. 
O dere dcjghter, ender of my lyf, 
Which 1 have fostred up with swich 

plcsaunce, 
That thou were never out of my remem- 

braunce ! 220 

O doghter, which that art my laste wo, 
And in my lyf my laste loye also, 
O gemme of chastitee, in paciencc 
Take thou thy deeth, for this is my sen- 
tence. 
For love and nat for hate, thou most be 

deed ; 225 

My pitfjus hand mot smyten of thyn heed. 
Alias ! that ever Apius thee say ! 
Thus hath he falsly lugcd thee to-day' — 
And tolde hir al the cas, as ye bifore 
Han herd ; nat nedeth for to telle it 

more. 230 

' O mercy, dere fader,' quod this mayde, 

And with that word she both hir amies 

layde 
About his nekkc, as she was wont to do : 
The teres broste out of hir eycn two. 
And seyde, *gode fader, shal I dye? 235 
Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?' 
' N(j, certes, dere doghter myn,' quod 

he. 
*Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,' 

qucjd she, 



'My deeth for to compleyne a litel 

space; 
For pardee, Tej^te yaf his doghter grace 
I'or tu compleyne, cr he hir slow, alias! 
And god it wout, no-thing was hir trespas, 
But for she ran hir fader (irst to see, 
To welcome him with greet solempnitee,' 
And with that word she 111 aswowne 

anon, 245 

And after, whan hir swowning is agon. 
She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayrle, 
' Blessed be god, that 1 shal dye a 

mayde. 
Yif me my deeth, cr that I have a 

shame; 
Doth with your child your wil, a goddes 

name ! ' 250 

And with that word she preyed him 

ful ofte, 
That with his swerd he wolde smyte 

softe, 
And witli that word aswowne doun she 

ni. 

Hir fader, with ful sorweful herte and 

wil, 
Hir heed of smoot, and by the top it 

hente, 255 

And to the Tugc he gan it to presente, 
As he sat yet in doom in consistorie. 
And whan the luge it saugh, as seith the 

storie. 
He bad to take him and anhange him 

faste. 
liut right anon a thousand peplc in 

thraste, 260 

To save the knight, for routhe and for 

pitee, 
Fijr knowen was the false iniquitee. 
The peple anon hath suspect of this 

thing, 
By manere of the cherles chalanging. 
That it was by the assent of Apius; 265 
They wisten wel that he was lecherous. 
For which un-to this Apius they gon, 
And caste him in a prison right anon, 
Wher-as he slow him-self ; and Claudius, 
That servant was un-to this Apius, 270 
Was denied for to hange upon a tree; 
But that Virginius, of his pitee, 
So preyde for him that he was exyled; 
And elles, certes, he had been bigyled. 
The remenent were anhanged, more and 

lesse, 275, 



276-328.] 



C. WORDS OF THE HOST. 



145 



That were conscntant of this cursed- 
nessc. — 
Heer men may seen how sinne hath 
his meryte ! 
Beth war, fur no man woot whom god 

wol smyte 
In no degree, ne in which maner 
wyse 

Here endeth the 



The worm of conscience may agryse 280 
Of wikked lyf, though it so privee lie, 
That no man woot ther-of but god ancl he. 
P'or be he lewed man, or elles lered. 
He noot how sone that he shal been 

afered. 
Therfore I rede yow this conseil take, 285 
Forsakcth sinne, er sinne yow forsake. 
Phisiciens tale. 



WORDS OF THE HOST. 



The wordes of the Host to the Phisicien 
and the Pardoner. 

Our Hoste gan to swere as he were 
wood, 

* Harrow ! ' quod he, ' by nayles and by 
blood ! 

This was a fals cherl and a fals lustysc ! 

As shaniful deeth as hcrtc may devyse 290 

Come to thise luges and hir advocas ! 

Algatc this sely niayde is slayn, alias! 

Alias! to derc boghte she beautee ! 

Wherfore I seye al day, as men may see, 

That yiftes of fortune or of nature 295 

Ben cause of deeth to many a creature. 

Hir beautee was hir deeth, I dar wel 
sayn; 

Alias ! so pitously as she was slayn ! 

Of l)othe yiftes that I speke of now 299 

Men han ful ofte more harm than prow. 

But trewely, myn owene mayster dere. 

This is a pitous tale for to here. 

But natheles, passe over, is no fors; 

I prey to god, so save thy gentil cors, 

And eek thyne urinals and thy Jor- 
dan es, 305 

Thyn Ypocras, and eek thy Galianes, 

And every boist ful of thy ktuarie; 

God blesse hem, and our lady seinte 
Marie 1 



So mot I theen, thou art a propre man, 
And lyk a prelat, by seint Ronyan ! 310 
Seyde I nat wel? I can nat speke in 

terme ; 
But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to 

erme, 
That I almost have caught a cardiacle. 
By corpus bones! but I have triacle. 
Or elles a draught of moyste and corny 

ale, 315 

Or but I here anon a mery tale, 
Myn herte is lust for pitee of this mayde. 
Thou bel amy, thou I'ardoner,' he seyde, 
*Tel us som mirthe or lapes right anon.' 

* It shall be doon,' quod he, * by seint 

Ronyon ! 320 

But first,' quod he, * heer at this ale- 
stake 
I wol both drinke, and eten of a cake.' 
But right anon thise gentils gonne to 
crye, 

* Nay ! lat him telle us of no ril)audye; 
Tel us som moral thing, that we may 

lere 325 

Som wit, and thanne wol we gladly 
here.' 

* I graunte, y-wis,' quod he, * but I mot 

thinke 
Up-on som honest thing, whyl that I 
drinke.' 



I4^> 



Till-: CANTKKliUKY J'Al.ES, 



l329-3«9. 



THE PROLOGUE OF '\\\K I'ARDONERS ^I'ALE. 



Hoc fulwclh till' Proloi'j' of Ihc I'ardoiiera 
Tale. 

Kadix vialoniiii est ('u/>i(/i/us : AU 'J'/ii- 
vtotkcum^ sexto. 

' LoRDiNfis,' (jucnl lie, * in chirchos wliaii 

I {trccyie, 
I i)(;ync me l<> liaii an liauteyn sj)cche, 
And riiij^c it (nit as round as ^<j(jth a 

belle, 33 » 

J'or I can al by rote that I telle. 
My theme is alwey oon, and ever was — 
•* J\(idix VKi lorn III est Cnpidiltn.'^ 

J'irst I j)r<Hiounce whennes that 1 

come, 335 

And than my buUes shevvc I, alle and 

sonmie. 
Dur li^e lordes seel on my patente, 
That shewe I first, my body to warente, 
'I'hat no man be so b<;ld, ne preesL ne 

eleik, 
Me to <lestourbe of ( iristes holy werk; 
And after that than telle 1 forth my 

tales, 341 

IJulles of popes and of cardinales, 
Of l)alriarUes, and bish<jppes I shcwe; 
And in 1 ,atyn I si)(d<(; a wordes fewe, 
To sadron with my predicaeioun, 345 
And for to stire men to flevoeioun. 
'Ihan shewe 1 forth my longe cristal 

stones, 
Y-cramme(l fill of cloutes and of Ixmes; 
ReliUs been they, as wenen they echoon. 
'I'han have I in latoun a sholder-boon 
Which that was (jf an holy lewes 

shepc. 351 

" (l(jod men," seye I, " tak of my wc^rdcs 

kc-pe; 
If tliat this bo(jn be wasshe in any 

welle, 
If cow, or calf, or sheep, or oxc swelle 
That any worm hath ete, or w<;rm y- 

ston^jc, 3S.S 

'I'ak water of that welle, and wash his 

ton^'c, 
And it is hool anon; and fortherinore, 
Of pokkes and of scabbe, and every 

sore 



Shal every slutep be hool, that of this 

welle 
hriid^tth adrau^hte; tak kepe cck what 

1 telle 3^>0 

If that the good-man, that the bcstcs 

(jweth, 
Wol every wike, cr that the cok him 

crtjweth, 
I'astinj^e, drinken of this welle a 

drau^hle, 
As thilke holy levve our eldres taughte, 
His bestes and his stoor shal multii)lye. 
And, sirs, also it lieleth Ialousy(-; 366 
I'or, though a man be falle in lalous 

rage, 
Let maken with this water his potage, 
And never shal he more his wyf mis- 

triste, 
Though he the sooth of hir defaute 

wiste; 370 

Al had she taken preestes two or three. 

I leer is a mitcyn (;ek, that ye may see. 
lie that his bond wol putle in this mit- 
cyn, 
He shal have multiplying of his greyn, 
Whan he hath s(jwen, be it whete or 

otes, 375 

So that he offre pens, or elles grotes. 
(Jood men and wfjmmen, o thing 

warne I yow, 
If any wight I)e in this chirche now, 
That hath doon sinne horrible, that he 
I)ar nat, for shame, of it y-shriven be, 
Or any womman, l>e she yong or old, 3S1 
That hath y-maad liir housbond coke- 
wold, 
Swich folk shul have no power ne no 

grace 
To oHrc^n to my reliks in this place. 
And who-so lindeih him out (jf swidi 

blame, 3^5 

He wol com uj) and offre in goddes 

name, 
And I assoille bin) by the auctoritcc 
Wiiieh that by bulle y-graunted was to 

me." 
Jiy this gaude have I wonne, yeer by 

yeer, 



390-462.] C. PROLOGUE OF THE PARDONERS TALE. 



147 



An hundred mark sith I was Pardoner. 
I stonde lyk a clerk in my pulpet, 391 
And wlian tlie lewed peple is doun y-set, 
I preche, so as ye han herd hifore, 
And telle an hundred false lapes more. 
Than peyne 1 me to strecehe fortii the 



nekkc 



95 



And est and west upon the iieple 1 

l)ekke, 
As doth a dowvc sitting on a heme. 
Myn hondes and my tonge goon so 

yerne, 
That it is loye to see my bisinesse. 
Of avaryce and of swieh eursednesse 400 
Is al my preeiiing, for to make hem 

free 
To ycve her pens, and namely un-to me. 
For my entente is nat hut for to winne, 
And no-thing for correeeioun of sinne. 
I rekke never, whan that they ben 

beried, 405 

Though that her soules goon a-blak'e- 

beried ! 
For eertes, many a predicaeioun 
Comth ofte tyme of yvel enteneioun; 
Som for plesaunee of folk and llaterye, 
To been avauneed by ipoerisye, 410 

And som for veyne glorie, and som for 

hate. 
For, whan I dar non other weyes de- 
bate, 
Than wol I stinge him with my tonge 

smerte 
In i)reehing, so that he shal nat asterte 
To been defamed falsly, if that he 415 
Ilath trespased to my brethren or to me. 
For, though 1 telle noght his propre 

name, 
Men shal wel knowe that it is the same 
l>y signes and by otherc eireumstances. 
Thus (]uyte I folk that doon us displcs- 

anees; 420 

Thus spitte I out my venim under hewe 
Of holynesse, to seme holy and trewe. 

lUit shortly myn entente I wol devyse; 
I preche of no-thing but for coveityse. 
Therfor my theme is yet, and ever 

was— 425 



*' Kadix titalorum est cupiiUtas.''' 
Thus can 1 preehe agayn that same vyce 
Which thai I use, and that is avaryce. 
Ikit, though my-self be gilty in that 

sinne, 
\ci can I maken other folk to twinne 
From avaryce, and sore to repente. 431 
l)Ut that is nat my principal entente. 
I preehe no-thing but for coveityse; 
Of this matere it oughte y-nogh suffyse. 
'I'han telle 1 hem ensamples many 
oon 435 

Of olde stories, longe tyme agoon : 
For lewed peple loven tales olde; 
Swieh thinges can they wel reporte and 

holde. 
What? trowe ye, the whyles I may 

preche. 
And winne gold and silver for I teche, 
That I wol live in povert wilfully? 441 
Nay, nay, 1 thoghte it never Irewely ! 
I'or I will preche and begge in sondry 

londes; 
I wol not do no labour with myn 

hondes, 
Ne make baskettes, and live therby, 445 
Because 1 wol nat beggen ydelly. 
I wol n(Mi of the apostles eounterfete; 
I wol have money, vvolle, chese, and 

whete, 
Al were it yeven of the jiovrest page. 
Or of the povrest widwe in a village, 450 
Al sholde hir children stervc for famyne. 
Nay ! I wol drinke licour of the vyne, 
And have a loly wenche in every toun. 
lUit herkmth, lordings, in conclusioun; 
Yourlyking is that I shal telle a tale. 455 
Now, liave I dronke a draughte of corny 

ale, 
Py god, I hope I shal yow telle a thing 
Tliat shal, by resoun, been at your lyk- 

For, though myself be a ful vicious man, 
A moral tale yet I yow telle can, 460 
Which I am wont to preche, for to 

winne. 
Now holde your pees, my tale I wol be- 

ginne. 



148 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[463-535. 



THE PARDONERS TALE. 



Here higinneth the Pardoners l\ile. 

In Flaundres whyUjm was a c(>m])anye 
Of yonge folk, that hauntcdcn folye, 
As ryot, hasard, stewcs, and taveriies, 465 
Wher-as, with harpcs, lutes, and gitcrncs, 
They daunce and pleye at dees bolhe 

day and night, 
And ete also and drinkcn over hir might, 
Thurgh which they doon the devel 

sacrifyse 
With-in tliat develes temple, in cursed 
wyse, 470 

liy superfluitee abhominable; 
Hir othes been so grete and so dampna- 

ble, 
That it is grisly for to here hem swere; 
Our blisscd lordes body they to-tere; 
Hem thoughte lewes rente him noght 
y-nough; 475 

And ech of hem at otheres sinnc lough. 
And right anon than comen tombesteres 
Fetys and smale, and yonge fruytesteres, 
Singers with harpes, jjaudes, wafereres, 
Whiche been the verray develes offi- 
ce res 480 
To kindle and blowe the fyr of lecherye, 
That is annexed un-to glotonye; 
The holy writ take I to my witnesse, 
That luxurie is in wyn and dronkenesse. 
Lo, how that dronken Loth, un- 
kindely, 485 
Lay by his cloghtres two, unwitingly; 
So dn^nke he was, he nistc what he 
wroghte. 
Hcrodes, (who-so wel the stories 
soghte). 
Whan he of wyn was replet at his feste, 
Right at his owene taljle he yaf his 
heste 490 
To sleen the Baptist lohn ful giltelees. 

Senck seith eek a good word doutelees; 
He seith, he can no difference (inde 
Bitwix a man that is out of his minde 
And a man which that is dronkelewe, 495 
But that woodnesse, y-fallen in a shrewe, 
Persevereth ienger than doth dronken- 
esse. 



O glotonye, ful of cursednesse, 

O cause first of our confusioun, 

O original of our dampnacioun, 500 

Til Crist had boght us with his blood 

agayn ! 
Lo, how dere, shortly for to sayn, 
Alxjght was thilke cursed vileinye; 
Corrupt was al this world for glotonye! 

Atlam our fader, and his wyf also, 505 
r'ro I'aradys to labour and to wo 
Were driven for that vyce, it is no drede; 
For whyl that Adam fasted, as I rede, 
He was in I'aradys; and whan that he 
I'.et of the fruyt defended on the tree, 510 
Anon he was (jut-cast to wo and peyne, 

gl(jtoi)ye, <;n thee wel oghte us pleyne ! 
O, wiste a man hcnv many maladyes 
Folwen (jf excesse and of glottMiyes, 

He wolde l)een the more mesurable 515 

Of his diete, sittinge at his table. 

Alias ! the shorte throte, the tendre 

mouth, 
Maketh that. Est and West, and North 

and South, 
In erthe, in eir, in water men to-swinke 
To gete a glotoun deyntee mete and 

drinke ! 520 

Of this matere, o Paul, wel canstc^w trete, 
* Mete un-to wombe, and wombe eek 

un-to mete, 
Shal god destroycn bothe,' as Paulus 

seith. 
Alias ! a foul thing is it, by my feith, 
To seye this word, and fouler is the 

dede, 525 

Whan man so drinketh of the whyte and 

rede, 
That of iiis throte he maketh his privee, 
Thurgh thilke cursed superfluitee. 

The ap(jstel vvej)ing seith ful pitously, 
'Ther walken many of whiche yow told 

have L . 53" 

1 seye it now weping with pitous voys. 
That they jjcen eneniys of Cristes croys. 
Of whiche the ende is deeth, wombe is 

her god.' 
O wombe ! O bely ! O stinking cod, 
F^uinid of d(mge and of corrupcioun ! 535 



536-6I8.J 



C. THE PARDONERS TALE. 



149 



At either ende of thee foul is the soun. 
How greet labour and cost is thee to 

finde ! 
Thise cokes, how they stampe, and 

streyne, and grinde, 
And turnen substaunce in-to accident, 
To fulfflle al thy likerous talent ! 540 

Out of the harde bones knokke they 
The inary, for they caste noght a-\vey 
That may go thurgh the golet softe and 

swote; 
Of spicerye, of leef, and bark, and rote 
Shal been his sauce y-maked by delyt. 
To make him yet a newer appetyt. 546 
But certes, he that haunteth swich 

delyces 
Is deed, whyl that he liveth in tho vyces. 
A lecherous thing is wyn, and dronk- 

enesse 
Is ful of stryving and of wrecchednesse. 
O dronke man, disfigured is thy face, 551 
Sour is thy breeth, foul artow to embrace, 
And thurgh thy dronke nose semeth the 

soun 
As though thou seydest ay * Sampsoun, 

Sampsoun '; 
And yet, god wot, Sampsoun drank 

never no wyn. 555 

Thou fallest, as it were a stiked swyn; 
Thy tonge is lost, and al thyn honest 

cure; 
For dronkenesse is verray sepulture 
Of mannes wit and his discrecioun. 559 
In whom that drinke hath dominacioun, 
He can no conseil kepe, it is no drede. 
Now kepe yow fro the whyte and fro the 

rede. 
And namely fro the whyte wyn of Lepe, 
That is to selle in P'ish-strete or in Chepe. 
This wyn of Spayne crepeth subtilly 565 
In othere wynes, growing faste l)y, 
Of which ther ryseth swich fumositee, 
That whan a man hath dronken 

draughtes three. 
And weneth that he be at hoom in 

Chepe, 
He is in Spayne, right at the toune of 

Lepe, 570 

Nat at the Rochel, ne at Burdeux toun; 
And thanne wol he seye, * Sampsoun, 
Sampsoun.' 
But herkneth, lordings, o word, I yow 
preye. 



That alle the sovereyn actes, dar I seye. 
Of victories in the olde testament, 575 
Thurgh verray god, that is omnipotent, 
Were doon in abstinence and in preyere; 
Loketh the Bible, and ther ye may it 
lere. 
Loke, Attila, the grete conquerour, 
Deyde in his sleep, with shame and dis- 
honour, 580 
Bledinge ay at his nose in dronkenesse; 
A capitayn shoulde live in sobrenesse. 
And over al this, avyseth yow right wel 
What was comaunded un-to Lamuel — 
Nat Samuel, but Lamuel, seye I — 585 
Redeth the Bible, and finde it expresly 
Of wyn-yeving to hem that han lustyse. 
Na-more of this, for it may wel suffyse. 
And now that I have spoke of 
glotonye, 
Now wol I yow defenden hasardrye. 590 
Hasard is verray moder of lesinges, 
And of deceite, and cursed forsweringes, 
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaughtre, and 

wast also 
Of catel and of tyme; and forthermo. 
It is repreve and contrarie of honour 595 
For to ben holde a commune hasardour. 
And ever the hyer he is of estaat, 
The more is he holden desolaat. 
If that a prince useth hasardrye, 
In alle governaunce and policye 600 

He is, as by commune o]Mnioun, 
Y-holde the lasse in reputacioun. 

Stilbon, that was a wys embassadour. 
Was sent to Corinthe, in ful greet hon- 
our, 604 
Fro Lacidomie, to make hir alliaunce. 
And whan he cam, him happede, par 

chaunce. 
That alle the grettest that were of that 

lond, 
Pleyinge atte hasard he hem fond. 
For which, as sone as it mighte be, 609 
He stal him hoom agayn to his contree. 
And seyde, * ther wol I nat lese my name; 
Ne I wol nat take on me so greet de- 
fame, 
Yow for to allye un-to none hasardours. 
Sendeth othere wyse embassadours; 614 
For, by my trouthe, me were lever dye, 
Than I yow sholde to hasardours allye. 
For ye that been so glorious in honours 
Shul nat allyen yow with hasardours • 



ISO 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[6i9-69a 



As by my wil, ne as by my tretee.' 
This wyse philosophre thus seyde he. 620 
Loke eek that, to the king Demetrius 
The king of Parthes, as the book seith 

us, 
Sente him a paire of dees of gold in 

scorn, 
For he hadde used hasard ther-biforn; 
For which he heeld his glorie or his re- 
noun 625 
At no value or reputacioun. 
Lordes may finden other maner pley 
Honeste y-nough to dryve the day awey. 
Now wol I speke of othes false and 
grete 
A word or two, as olde bokes trete. 630 
Gret swering is a thing abhominable, 
And false swering is yet more reprevable. 
The heighe god forbad swering at al, 
Witnesse on Mathew; but in special 
Of swering seith the holy leremye, 635 

* Thou shalt seye sooth thyn othes, and 

nat lye. 
And swere in dome, and eek in right- 

wisnesse; ' 
But ydel swering is a cursednesse. 
Bihold and see, that in the firste table 
Of heighe goddes hestes honurable, 640 
How that the seconde heste of him is 

this — 

* Tak nat my name in ydel or amis.' 
Lo, rather he forbedeth swich swering 
Than homicyde or many a cursed thing; 
I seye that, as by ordre, thus it stond- 

eth ; 645 

This knowen, that his hestes understond- 

eth, 
How that the second heste of god is 

that. 
And forther over, I wol thee telle al 

plat, 
That vengeance shal nat parten from his 

hous, 
That of his othes is to outrageous. 650 

* By goddes precious herte, and by his 

nayles, 
And by the l^lode of Crist, that it is in 

Hayles, 
Seven is my chaunce, and thyn is cink 

and treye; 
By goddes armes, if thou falsly pleye, 
This dagger shal thurgh-out thyn herte 

go'— 655 



This fruyt cometh of the bicched bones 

two, 
P^orswering, ire, falsnesse, homicyde. 
Now, for the love of Crist that for us 

dyde, 
Leveth your othes, bothe grete and 

smale; 659 

But, sirs, now wol I telle forth my tale. 

Thise ryotoures three, of whiche I telle, 
Longe erst er pryme rong of any belle, 
Were set hem in a taverne for to drinke; ^ 
And as they satte, they herde a belle ^ 

clinke 664 

Biforn a cors, was caried to his grave; 
Thatoon of hem gan callen to his knave, 

• Go bet,' quod he, ' and axe redily. 
What cors is this that passeth heer forby; 
And look that thou reporte his name 

wel.' 
' Sir,' quod this boy, ' it nedeth never- 
a-del. 670 

It was me told, er ye cam heer, two 
houres; 

He was, pardee, an old felawe of youres; 

And sodeynly he was y-slayn to-night, 

For-dronke, as he sat on his bench up- 
right; 

Ther cam a privee theef, men clepeth 
Dceth, 675 

That in this contree al the peple sleeth, 

And with his spere he smoot his herte 
a-two. 

And wente his wey with-outen wordes 
mo. 

He hath a thousand slayn this pesti- 
lence : 

And, maister, er ye come in his pres- 
ence, 680 

Me thinketh that it were necessarie 

For to be war of swich an adversarie : 

Beth redy for to mete him evermore. 

Thus taughte me my dame, I sey na- 
more.' 

* By seinte Marie,' seyde this taverner, 
'The child seith sooth, for he-hath slayn 

this yeer, 686 

Henne over a myle, with-in a greet vil- 
lage, 

Both man and womman, child and hyne, 
and page. 

I trowe his habitacioun be there; 

To been avysed greet wisdom it were. 



691-759.] 



C THE PARDONERS TALE. 



151 



Er that he dide a man in dishonour.' 691 
* Ye, goddes armes,' quod this ryotour, 
*Is it swich peril with him for to mete? 
I shal him seke by wey and eek bystrete, 
I make a vow to goddes digne bones ! 
Herkneth, felawes, we three been al 
ones; 696 

Lat ech of us holde up his hond til 

other, 
And ech of us bicomen otheres brother, 
And we wol sleen this false traytour 

Deeth ; 
He shal be slayn, which that so many 
sleeth, 700 

By goddes dignitee, er it be night.' 
Togidres han thise three her trouthes 
plight, 
To live and dyen ech of hem for other, 
As though he were his owene y-boren 

brother. 
And up they sterte al dronken, in this 
rage, 705 

And forth they goon towardes that vil- 
lage, 
Of which the taverner had spoke biforn. 
And many a grisly ooth than han they 

sworn. 

And Cristes blessed body they to-rente — 

* Deeth shal be deed, if that they may 

him hente.' 710 

Whan they han goon nat fully half a 

myle. 

Right as they wolde han troden over a 

style. 
An old man and a povre with hem mette. 
This olde man ful mekely hem grette, 
And seyde thus, ' now, lordes, god yow 
see!' 71^ 

The proudest of thise ryotoures three 
Answerde agayn, 'what? carl, with sory 

grace. 
Why artow al forwrapped save thy 

face? 
Why livestow so longe in so greet age? ' 
This olde man gan loke in his vis- 
age, 720 
And seyde thus, ' for I ne can nat finde 
A man, though that I walked in-to Inde, 
Neither in citee nor in no village. 
That wolde chaunge his youthe for myn 

age; 
And therfore moot T han myn age stille, 
As longe time as it is goddes wille. 726 



Ne deeth, alias! ne wol nat han mv 
lyf; ^ 

Thus walke I, lyk a restelees caityf, 
And on the ground, which is my modres 

gate, 
I knokke with my staf, bothe erly and 
late, 730 

And seye, " leve moder, leet me in ! 
Lo, how I vanish, flesh, and blood, and 

skin ! 
Alias! whan shul my bones been at 

reste? 
Moder, with yow wolde I chaunge my 

cheste. 
That in my chambre longe tyme hath 
be, 73^ 

Ye ! for an heyre clout to wrappe me ! " 
But yet to me she wol nat do that grace, 
For which ful pale and welked is my 
face. 
But, sirs, to yow it is no curteisye 
To speken to an old man vileinye, 740 
But he trespasse in worde, or elles in 

dede. 
In holy writ ye may your-self wel rede, 
"Agayns an old man, hoor upon his 

heed. 
Ye sholde aryse; " wherfor I yeve yow 

reed, 
Ne dooth un-to an old man noon harm 
now, 745 

Na-more than ye wolde men dide to 

yow 
In age, if that ye so longe abyde; 
And god be with yow, wher ye go or 

ryde. 
I moot go thider as I have to go.' 

'Nay, olde cherl, by god, thou shalt 
nat so,' 7ro 

Seyde this other hasardour anon; 
*Thou partest nat so lightly, by seint 

lohn! 
Thou spak right now of thilke traitour 

Deeth, 
That in this contree alle our frendes 

sleeth. 
Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his 
aspye, 755 

Tel wher he is, or thou shalt it abye. 
By god, and by the holy sacrament ! 
For soothly thou art oon of his assent. 
To sleen us yonge folk, thou false 
theef! ' 



152 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[760-826. 



' Now, sirs,' quod he, * if that yow be 

so leef 760 

To finde Deeth, turne up this croked 

wey. 
For in that grove I lafte him, by my fey. 
Under a tree, and ther he wol abyde; 
Nat for your boost he wol him no-thing 

hyde. 
See ye that 00k? right ther ye shul him 

finde. 765 

God save yow, that boghte agayn man- 
kin de, 
And yow amende!' — thus seyde this 

olde man. 
And everich of thise ryotoures ran. 
Til he cam to that tree, and ther they 

founde 
Of florins fyne of golde y-coyned rounde 
Wei ny an eighte busshels, as hem 

thoughte. 771 

No lenger thanne after Deeth they 

soughte, 
But ech of hem so glad was of that 

sighte, 
For that the florins been so faire and 

brighte, 
That doun they sette hem by this pre- 
cious horrl. 775 
The worste of hem he spake the firste 

word. 
' Brethren,' quod he, * tak kepe what I 

seye; 
My wit is greet, though that I bourde 

and pleye. 
This tresor hath fortune un-to us yiven, 
In mirthe and lolitee our lyf to liven, 780 
And lightly as it comth, so wol we 

spende. 
Ey ! goddes precious dignitee ! who wende 
To-day, that we shoUle han so fair a grace? 
But mighte this gold be caried fro this 

place 
Hoom to myn hous, or elles un-to youres — 
For wel ye woot that al this gold is 

oures — 786 

Than were we in heigh felicitee. 
But trewely, by daye it may nat be; 
Men wolde seyn that we were theves 

stronge, 789 

And for our owene tresor doon us honge. 
This tresor moste y-caried be by nighte 
As wyslv and as slyly as it mighte. 
Whcrf(jrc J rede that cut among us alle 



Be drawe, and lat se wher the cut wol 

falle; 
And he that hath the cut with herte 

blythe 795 

Shal renne to the toune, and that ful 

svvythe, 
And bringe us breed and wyn ful prively. 
And two of us shul kepen subtilly 
This tresor well; and, if he wol nat tarie, 
Whan it is night, we wol this tresor 

carie 800 

By oon assent, wher-as us thinketh best.' 
That oon of hem the cut broughte in his 

fest, 
And bad hem drawe, and loke wher it 

wol falle; 
And it fil on the yongeste of hem alle; 
And forth toward the toun he wente 

anon. 805 

And al-so sone as that he was gon, 
That oon of hem spak thus un-to that 

other, 
*Thou knowest wel thou art my sworne 

brother. 
Thy profit wol I telle thee anon. 
Thou woost wel that our felawe is agon; 
And heer is gold, and that ful greet 

plentee, 811 

That shal departed been among us three. 
But natheles, if I can shape it so 
That it departed were among us two, 
Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to 

thee?' 815 

That other answerde, * I noot how that 

may be; 
He woot how that the gold is with us 

tweye. 
What shal we doon, what shal we to him 

seye? ' 
'Shal it be conseil?' seyde the firste 

shrewe, 
• And I shal tellen thee, in wordes fewe, 
What we shal doon, and bringe it wel 

aboute.' 821 

* I graunte,' quod that other, * out of 

doute, 
That, by my trouthe, I wol thee nat 
biwreye.' 

* Now,' quod the firste, ' thou woost 

wel we be tweye, 
And two of us shul strenger be than 

oon- 825 

Look whan that he is set, and right anoon 



827-898.] 



C. THE PARDONERS TALE. 



:53 



Arys, as though thou woldest with him 

pleye; 
And I shal ryve him thurgh the sydes 

tweye 
Whyl that thou strogelest with him as in 

game, 
And with thy dagger look thou do the 

same ; 830 

And than shal al this gold departed be, 
My dere freend, bitwixen me and thee; 
Than may we bothe our lustes al fulfiUe, 
And pleye at dees right at our ovvene 

wille.' 
And thus acorded been thise shrewes 

tweye 835 

To sleen the thridde, as ye han herd me 

seye. 
This yongest, which that wente un-to 

the toun, 
Ful ofte in herte he rolleth up and doun 
The beautee of thise florins newe and 

brighte. 
* O lord ! ' quod he, * if so were that I 

might e 840 

Have al this tresor to my-self allone, 
Ther is no man that liveth under the 

trone 
Of god, that sholde live so mery as I ! ' 
And atte laste the feend, our enemy, 
Putte in his thought that he shold poyson 

beye, ^ 845 

With which he mighte sleen his felawes 

tweye ; 
For-why the feend fond him in swich 

lyvinge, 
That he had leve him to sorwe bringe, 
For this was outrely his fulle entente 
To sleen hem bothe, and never to re- 

pente. 850 

And forth he gooth, no lenger wolde he 

tarie, 
Into the toun, un-to a pothecarie, 
And preyed him, that he him wolde selle 
Som poyson, that he mighte his rattes 

quelle ; 
And eek ther was a polcat in his hawe. 
That, as he seyde, his capouns hadde 

y-slawe, 856 

And fayn he wolde wreke him, if he 

mighte. 
On vermin, that destroyed him by nighte. 
The pothecarie answerde, *and thou 

shalt have 



A thing that, al-so god my soule save, 860 
In al this world ther nis no creature, 
That ete or dronke hath of this confiture 
Noght but the mountance of a corn of 

whete, 
That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete; 
Ye, sterve he shal, and that in lasse 

whyle 865 

Than thou wolt goon a paas nat but a 

myle; 
This poyson is so strong and violent.' 
This cursed man hath in his hond 

y-hent 
This poyson in a box, and sith he ran 
In-to the nexte strete, un-to a man, 870 
And borwed [of] him large hotels three; 
And in the two his poyson poured he; 
The thridde he kepte clene for his 

drinke. 
For al the night he shoop him for to 

swinke 874 

In caryinge of the gold out of that place. 
And whan this ryotour, with sory grace, 
Had filled with wyn his grete hotels three. 
To his felawes agayn repaireth he. 

What nedeth it to sermone of it more? 
For right as they had cast his deeth 

bifore, 880 

Right so they han him slayn, and that 

anon. 
And whan that this was doon, thus spak 

that oon, 
* Now lat us sitte and drinke, and make 

us merie. 
And afterward we wol his body berie.' 
And with that word it happed him, par 

cas, 885 

To take the hotel ther the poyson was. 
And drank, and yaf his felawe drinke 

also, 
For which anon they storven bothe two. 

But, certes, I suppose that Avicen 
Wroot never in no canon, ne in no fen. 
Mo wonder signes of empoisoning 891 
Than hadde thise wrecches two, er hir 

ending. 
Thus ended been thise homicydes two. 
And eek the false empoysoner also. 

O cursed sinne, ful of cursednesse ! 895 
O traytours homicyde, o wikkednesse ! 
O glotonye, luxurie, and hasardrye ! 
Thou blasphemour of Crist with vileinye 



•54 



THK CANTKkHUKY TALIOS. 



[89^968. 



And othc'S Rreto, of uanpe and of prydc ! 
Alius! niaiikiiiiU', liow uuiy it bitydc, 900 
Tliiit to tliy ciiiituur which th;it thcc 

\vro;.;hU', 
And witii his prfcioiis licrtc-l)lo()d tlict; 

bo^htc-, 
'Thou ;\ri so fals and so unkindc, aUas ! 
Now, jj;o()dc nu'n, }'.od lor^i-vc yow 

your (rcspas, 
And ware yow fro Ihc sinnc of ava- 

ryi:c.'. (>(>5 

Myn holy panhnin may yow allc waiycc, 
So- that yc olfrc nohlcs or stcrlinj^cs, 
( )r olU's silver hroehes, sponcs, rinj^cs. 
IJuwcth your hec<l under this holy Itulle! 
C'onieth u|), ye wyves, offrelh of your 

wollc! <)i() 

\'our name- I cntre heir in my rollc 

anitn ; 
In-lo the hlisse of hevene shul ye ^on; 
I yow assoile, l»y inyn lud^li pt)wer, 
Yow that wol ollii', as cUne and eek as 

.h'.T 

As yi- went bom; and, lo, sirs, thus I 

prcchi-. «^I5 

And Itsu Crist, that is our soulcs leehe, 
So f^'iaunte yow his pardon to reeeyve; 
I'm liiat is bi'st; 1 wol yow nat deeeyve. 

Ihit sirs, o word format I in iny tale, 
I have relil;es and pardon in my 

male, <;^'<) 

As faire as any man in I'ln^iloiid, 
Whiehe were me yeven by the popes 

iiond. 
If any of yow wol, of devoeioun, 
( )llren, and han n>yn al)Soluiioun, 
Comelh (orlh anon, and kmleth hecr 

adoun, 925 

And mekely receyveth my pardoun : 
Or elles, taketh jxvrdon as ye wendi', 
Al newe ai\d fresh, at every tounes ende. 
So that ye offren alwey nc^we and newe 
Nobles and pens, which that be ^ode and 

trewe. (),]o 

it is an honour to (>veri( h that is hecr, 
That ye mowe have a sullisant pardoneer 
Tassoille yow, in lontree as ye rydi-, 
I'ur avi-ntures which that may bityde. 
Tcravcnlure llur may falle oon or 

two 935 

i)oun of his hors, and breke his nekke 

at wo. 



Look which a seuretce is it to yow alle 
That 1 am in your felawcship y-falle, 
That may assoille yow, bothe more and 

lasse. 
Whan that the soule shal ho tiie body 

passe. 940 

1 rcdc that our hoste hecr slud bi^inne, 
I'or he is most cnvdluped in sinne. 
( oin lorlli, sir hosli-, and oltre hrst anon, 
And Ihou shalt kisse the reliks everiidion, 
\'r, lor a grole ! unbokil anon tliy 

purs.' 9-15 

*Nay, nay,' (piod he, 'than have 1 

C'ristes curs ! 
Lat be,' quod he, * it shal nat be, so 

theech ! 
Thou woldesl make me kisse Ihyn t)ld 

breech. 
And swere it wen- a rtlil; of a siint, 
Tho^lj it were with thy lundement dc- 

peint ! 950 

r.ut by tlu: croys wlii( h that si'int I'^leyne 

l..nd, 
I woldc 1 haddcr thy coillons in myn bond 
In slcilr of relikes or of sidntuarie; 
Lat cutte hem of, I wol thee liclpi- hem 

earie; 
They shul be shryned in an ho^'j^es 

tord.' 955 

'l"his pardoner answerde nal a word; 
So wrooth lie was, no won! ne wolde he 

seye. 
' Now,' quod our host, ' 1 wol no lender 

pleyc 
With thee, ne wilh noon other an}.fry 

man.' 
r.ut ri^ht anon llu' worthy knij^ht 

bi}j[an, 9()0 

Whan that he sauidi that al tht; ])ei)le 

lou^h, 
' Na-more of this, for it is rij^ht y-nou^di; 
Sn- ])ard(nier, be ^la<l ami mery of 

chcre; 
And ye, sir host, that been to me so 

dere, 
I prey yow that ye kisse the par- 
doner. 965 
And |)ardoner, 1 prey thee, drawe thee 

ncrr, 
y\nd, as we diden, lat us lau^^he anil 

pleye.' 
Anon Ihcvkiste, and riden forth hir vveyc. 



/Aw is ciiilcil (Iw I'indotui s Talc. 



1-68.1 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S TROLOGUE. 



55 



GROUP D. 
THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



The Prologe of the Wyi'es Tale of Bathe. 

* Experience, though noon auctoritee 
Were in this worhl, were right y-nough 

to me 
To speke of wo tliat is in mariage; 
For, U)r(lingcs, silh I twclf yecr was of 

age, 
Thonked be god tliat is etenie on lyve, 5 
Ilousbondes at chnchc-dt)re I have had 

fyve; 
For I so ofte have y-wecUled be; 
And alle were worthy men in hir degree. 
But me was tokl certeyn, nat h)nge agon 

is, 
That sith that Crist nc wcnte never but 

onis 10 

To weiUling in the Cane of Galilee, 
That by the same ensami^le taughte he 

me 
That I ne sholde wedded he but ones. 
Herke eek, lo ! which a sharp word ft)r 

the nones 
Besyde a welle lesus, god and man, 15 
Spak in repreve of the Samaritan : 
" Thou hast y-had fyve housbondes," 

quod he, 
"And thilke man, the which that hath 

now thee, 
Is noght thyn housbond;" thus seyde he 

certeyn ; 
Wliat that he mente ther-by, I can nat 

seyn ; 20 

But that I axe, why tliat the fifthe man 
Was noon housl)(nul t(^ the Samaritan? 
How manye mighte she have in mariage? 
Yet herde I never tellen in myn age 
Upon this nombre diffinicioun ; 25 

Men may tlcvync and glosen up and 

doun. 
But wel I woot expres, with-oute lye, 
Gotl bad us for to wexe and multiplye; 
That gcntil text can I wcl understonde. 
Eek wel 1 woot he seyde, myn hous- 

bonde 30 

Sholilc lete fader and moder, and take me; 
But of no ncimbre mencion made he, 
Of bigamye or of octugamye; 



Why sholde men speke of it vileinye? 
1^0, here the wyse king, dan Salo- 
mon; 35 
I trowe he hadde wyves mo than oon; 
As, wolde god, it leveful were to me 
To be refresshed half so ofte as he ! 
Which yifte of god hadde he for alle his 

wyvis ! 
No man hath swich, that in this worlde 

alyve is. 40 

God woot, tliis noble king, as to my wit. 
The lirste nigiit had many a mcry ht 
With ech of hem, so wel was him on 

lyve ! 
Blessed be god that I have wedded fyve! 
Welcome the sixte, whan that ever he 

shal. 45 

For sothe, I wol nat kcpe me chast in 

al; 
Whan myn housbond is fro the world 

y-goii, 
Som Cristen man shal wedde me anon; 
l"'or thanne thapostle seith, that I am free 
To wedde, a goddes half, wher it lyketh 

me. 50 

He seith that to be wedded is no sinne; 
l>et is to be wedded than to brinne. 
What rekketh me, thogh folk seye 

vileinye 
Of shrewed Lameth and his bigamye? 
1 woot wel Abraliam was an holy man, 55 
And lacob eek, as fcrforth as I can; 
And ech of hem hadde wyves mo than 

two ; 
And many another holy man also. 
Whan saugh ye ever, in any maner age, 
That hye god defended mariage 60 

liy expres word? I pray you, telleth me; 
Or wher comanded he virginitee? 
I woot as wcl as ye, it is no drede, 
Thapostel, whan he speketh of mayden- 

hede; 
He seyde, that precept ther-of hadde he 
noon. 65 

Men may conseille a womman to been 

oon. 
But conseilling is no comandcmcnt; 
He putte it in our owcnc lugcmcnt. 



56 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[69-148. 



For hadde god comanded maydenhede, 
Thanne hadde he dampned wedding 

with the dedej 70 

And certes, if ther were no seed y-sowe, 
Virginitee, wher-of than sholde it growe? 
Poul dorste nat comanden atte leste 
A thing of which his maister yaf noon 

heste. 
The dart is set up for virginitee; 75 

Cacche who so may, who renneth best 

lat see. 
But this word is nat take of every 

wight, 
But ther as god list give it of his might. 
I woot wel, that thapostel was a mayde; 
But natheless, thogh that he wroot and 

sayde, 80 

He wolde that every wight were swich as 

he, 
Al nis but conseil to virginitee; 
And for to been a wyf, he yaf me leva 
Of indulgence; so it is no repreve 
To wedde me, if that my make dye, 85 
With-oute excepcioun of bigamye. 
Al were it good no womman for to 

touche. 
He mente as in his bed or in his couche; 
For peril is bothe fyr and tow tassemble; 
Ye knowe what this ensample may re- 
semble. 90 
This is al and som, he heeld virginitee 
More parfit than wedding in freletee. 
Freeltee clepe I; but-if that he and she 
Wolde leden al hir lyf in chastitee. 

I graunte it wel, I have noon envye, 95 
Thogh maydenhede preferre bigamye; 
Hem lyketh to be clene, body and goost. 
Of myn estaat I nil nat make no boost. 
For wel ye knowe, a lord in his hous- 

hold, 
He hath nat every vessel al of gold; 100 
Somme been of tree, and doon hir lord 

servyse. 
God clepeth folk to him in sondry wyse, 
And everich hath of god a propre yifte, 
Som this, som that, — as him lyketh 

shifte. 
Virginitee is greet perfeccioun, 105 
And continence eek with devocioun. 
But Crist, that of perfeccioun is welle, 
Bad nat every wight he sholde go selle 
All that he hadde, and give it to the 

pore. 



And in swich wyse folwe him and his 

fore. no 

He spak to hem that wolde live parfitly; 
And lordinges, by your leve, that am 

nat I. 
I wol bistowe the flour of al myn age 
In the actes and in fruit of mariage. 

Telle me also, to what conclusioun 1 15 
Were membres maad of generacioun. 
And for what profit was a wight y-wroght? 
Trusteth right wel, they wer nat maad 

for noght. 
Close who-so wole, and seye bothe up 

and doun. 
That they were maked for purgacioun 1 20 
Of urine, and our bothe thinges smale 
Were eek to knowe a femele from a 

male. 
And for noon other cause : sey ye no? 
The experience woot wel it is noght so; 
So that the clerkes be nat with me 

wroth e, 125 

I sey this, that they maked been for 

bothe. 
This is to seye, for office, and for ese 
Of engendrure, ther we nat god displese. 
Why sholde men elles in hir bokes sette, 
That man shal yelde to his wyf hir 

dette? 130 

Now wher-with sholde he make his paye- 

ment. 
If he ne used his sely instrument? 
Than were they maad up-on a creature, 
To purge uryne, and eek for engendrure. 
But I seye noght that every wight is 

holde, 135 

That hath swich barneys as I to yow 

tolde. 
To goon and usen hem in engendrure; 
Than sholde men take of chastitee no 

cure. 
Crist was a mayde, and shapen as a man, 
And many a seint, sith that the world 

bigan, 140 

Yet lived they ever in parfit chastitee. 
I nil envye no virginitee; 
Lat hem be breed of pured whete-seed, 
And lat us wyves hoten barly-breed; 
And yet with barly-breed, Mark telle 

can, 145 

Our lord lesu refresshed many a man. 
In swich estaat as god hath cleped us 
I wol persevere, I nam nat precious. 



[49-222.] 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



'57 



In wyfhode I wol use myn instrument 
As frely as my maker hath it sent. 150 
If I be daungerous, god yeve me sorwe ! 
Myn housbond shal it have bothe eve 

and morwe, 
Whan that him list com forth and paye 

his dette. 
An housbonde I wol have, I nil nat lette, 
Which shal be bothe my dettour and my 

thral 155 

And have his tribulacioun with-al 
Up-on his flessh, whyl that I am his wyf. 
I have the power duringe al my lyf 
Up-on his propre body, and noght he. 
Right thus the apostel tolde it un-to 

me; 160 

And bad our housbondes for to love us 

weel. 
Al this sentence me lyketh every-deel' — ■ 

Up sterte the Pardoner, and that anon, 
*Now dame,' quod he, 'by god and by 

seint John, 
Ye been a noble prechour in this cas ! 
I was aboute to wedde a wyf; alias ! 166 
What sholde I bye it on my flesh so 

dere? 
Yet hadde I lever wedde no wyf to-yere ! ' 

* Abyde ! ' quod she, ' my tale is nat 

bigonne; 
Nay, thou shalt drinken of another tonne 
Er that I go, shal savoure wors than 

ale. 171 

And whan that I have told thee forth my 

tale 
Of tribulacioun in mariage, 
Of which I am expert in al myn age. 
This to seyn, my-self have been the 

whippe; — 175 

Than maystow chese whether thou wolt 

sippe 
Of thilke tonne that I shal abroche. 
Be war of it, er thou to ny approche; 
For I shal telle ensamples mo than ten. 
Who-so that nil be war by othere men, 
By him shul othere men corrected be. 
The same wordes wryteth Ptholomee; 
Rede in his Almageste, and take it 

there.' 

* Dame, I wolde pray yow, if your wil 

it were,' 
Seyde this Pardoner, * as ye bigan, 185 
Telle forth your tale, spareth for no man, 



And teche us yonge men of your prak- 

tike.' 
* Gladly,' quod she, ' sith it may yow 

lyke. 
But yet I praye to al this companye, 
If that I speke after my fantasye, 190 
As taketh not a-grief of that I seye ; 
For myn entente nis but for to pleye. 
Now sires, now wol I telle forth my 

tale.— 
As ever mote I drinken wyn or ale, 
I shal seye sooth, tho housbondes that I 

hadde, 195 

As three of hem were gode and two were 

badde. 
The three men were gode, and riche, 

and olde; 
Unnethe mighte they the statut holde 
In which they were bounden un-to me. 
Ye woot wel what I mene of this, par- 
dee ! 200 
As help me god, I laughe whan I thinke 
How pitously a-night I made hem 

swinke ; 
And by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor. 
They had me yeven hir gold and hir 

tresoor; 
Me neded nat do lenger diligence 205 
To winne hir love, or doon hem rever- 
ence. 
They loved me so wel, by god above, 
That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love ! 
A wys womman wol sette hir ever in oon 
To gete hir love, ther as she hath noon. 
But sith I hadde hem hoolly in myn 

hond, 211 

And sith they hadde me yeven all hir 

lond. 
What sholde I taken hede hem for to 

plese, 
But it were for my profit and myn ese ? 
I sette hem so a-werke, by my fey, 215 
That many a night they songen " weila- 

wey ! " 
The bacoun was nat fet for hem, I trowe. 
That som men han in Essex at Dun- 

mowe. 
I governed hem so wel, after my lawe, 
That ech of hem ful blisful was and 

fawe 220 

To bringe me gaye thinges fro the fayre. 
They were ful glad whan I spak to hem 

fayre; 



58 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[223-299. 



For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously. 
Now herkncth, how I bar me proprcly, 
Ye wyse wyves, that can undeistonde. 
Thus shul ye speke and here hem 

wrong on honde; 226 

For half so boldely can ther no man 
Swere and lyen as a woniman can. 
I sey nat this l)y wyves that ben wyse, 
l>ut-if it be whan they hem misavyse. 230 
A wys wyf, if that she can hir good, 
Slial beren him on hond the cow is 

wood, 
And take witnessc of hir owene mayde 
Of hir assent; but herkncth how I sayde. 

* Sir olde kaynard, is this thyn array? 
Why is my neighebores wyf so gay? 236 
She is honoured over-al ther slie gotli; 
I sitte at hoom, I have no thrifty clotli. 
What dostow at my neighebores hous? 
Is she so fair? artow so amorous? 240 
What rovvneye with our mayde? bcne- 

dicite ! 
Sir olde lechour, lat thy Tapes be ! 
And if I have a gossib or a freend, 
With-outen gilt, thou chydest as a feend, 
If that I walke or pleye un-to his hous ! 
Thou comest hoom as dronken as a 

mous, 246 

And prechest on thy bench, with yvel 

preef ! 
Thou seist to me, it is a greet mcschief 
To wedde a povre womman, for costage; 
And if that she be riche, of heigh parage, 
Than seistow that it is a tormentrye 251 
To suffre hir pryde and hir malencolye. 
And if that she be fair, thou verray 

knave, 
Thou seyst that every hulour wol hir 

have; 
She may no whyle in chastitee abyde, 
That is assailled up-on ech a syde. 256 
Thou seyst, som folk desyre us for 

richesse, 
Somme for our shap, and sommc for our 

fairnesse; 
And som, for she can cuther singe or 

daunce, 
And som, for gentillcsse and daliaunce; 
Som, for hir handes and hir armcs 

smale; 261 

Thus goth al to the devel by thy talc. 
Thou seyst, men may nat kepe a castel- 

wal; 



It may so longe assailled been over-al. 
And if that she be foul, thou seist that 

she 265 

Coveiteth every man that she may se; 
For as a spaynel she wol on him lepe. 
Til that she linde som man hir to chepe; 
Ne noon so grey goos goth ther in the 

lake, 
As, seistow, that wol been with-oute 

make. 270 

And seyst, it is an hard thing for to 

welde 
A thing that no man wol, his thankes, 

helde. 
Thus seistow, lorel, whan thow goost to 

bedde; 
And that no wys man nedeth for to 

wedde, 274 

Ne no man that entendeth un-to hevcne. 
With wilde tliondcr-dint and liry levene 
Mote thy welked nekke be tui-broke ! 
Thow seyst that dropping houses, and 

eek smoke. 
And chyding wyves, maken men to flee 
(^ut of hir owene hous ; a ! hcnedicite ! 
What eyleth swich an old man for to 

chyde ? 281 

Thow seyst, we wyves wol our vyces 

hyde 
Til we be fast, and tlian we wol hem 

shewe; 
Wei may that be a proverbe of a shrewe ! 
Thou seist, that oxen, asses, hors, and 

houndes, 285 

They been assayed at diverse stoundes; 
I5acins, lavours, er that men hem bye, 
Spones and stoles, and al swich hous- 

bontlrye. 
And so i)cen pottes, clothes, and array; 
But folk of wyves maken noon assay 290 
Til they be wedded; olde dotard shrewe ! 
And than, seistow, we wol oure vices 

shewe. 
Thou seist also, that it displescth me 
But-if that thou wolt preyse my beautee, 
And but thou poure alwey up-on my 

face, 295 

And clepe me " faire dame " in every 

place; 
And but thou make a feste on thilke day 
That I was born, and make me fresh and 

gay, 
And but thou do to my norice honour 



300-372.] 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



159 



And to my chamberere with-inne my 

hour, 300 

And to my fadres folk and his allyes; — 
Thus seistow, olde barel fill of lyes ! 

And yet of our apprentiee lanekyn, 
For his crisp heer, shyninge as gold so fyn, 
And for he squiereth me bothe up and 

doun, _ 305 

Yet hastovv caught a fals suspecioun ; 
1 wol hym noght, thogh thou were deed 

to-morwe. 
But tel me this, why hydestow, with 

sorwe, 
The keyes of thy cheste awey fro me? 
It is my good as wel as thyn, pardee. 310 
What wenestow make an idiot of our 

dame? 
Now by that lord, that called is scint lame, 
Thou shalt nat bothe, thogh that thou 

were wood, 
Be maister of my body and of my good ; 
That oon thou shalt forgo, maugree thyne 

yen; 315 

What nedeth thee of me to enquere or 

spycn? 
I trowe, thou woldest loke me in thy 

chiste ! 
Thou sholdest seye, " wyf, go wher thee 

liste, 
Tak your disport, I wol nat leve no talis; 
I knowe yow for a trewe wyf, dame 

Alis." 320 

We love no man that taketh kepe or 

charge 
Wher that we goon, we wol ben at our 

large. 
Of allc men y-blessed moot he be, 
The wyse astrologien Dan Ptholome, 
That seith this proverbe in his Alma- 

geste, 325 

" Of alle men his wisdom is the hyeste, 
That rekketh never who hath the world 

in honde." 
By this proverbe thou shalt undcrstonde. 
Have thou y-nogh, what thar thee recche 

or care 
How merily that othere folkes fare? 330 
For certeyn, olde dotard, by your leve, 
Ye shul have queynte right y-nough at eve. 
He is to greet a nigard that wol werne 
A man to lighte his candle at his lanterne ; 
He shal have never the lasse light, 

pardee; 335 



Have thou y-nough, thee thar nat pleyne 

thee. 
Thou scyst also, that if we make us gay 
With clothing and with precious array, 
That it is peril of our chastitee; 
And yet, with sorwe, thou most enforce 

thee, 340 

And seye thise wordes in the apostles 

name, 
" In habit, maad with chastitee and 

shame. 
Ye wommen shul apparaille yow," quod 

he, 
"And noght in tressed heer and gay 

perree, 344 

As perles, ne with gold, ne clothes riche ; " 
After thy text, ne after thy rubriche 
I wol nat wirche as muchel as a gnat. 
Thou seydcst this, that I was lyk a cat; 
For who-so wolde senge a cattes skin, 
Thanne wolde the cat wel dwellen in his 

in; 350 

And if the cattes skin be slyk and gay, 
She wol nat dwelle in house half a day. 
But forth she vvole, er any day be dawed, 
To shewe hir skin, and goon a-cater- 

wawed ; 
This is to seye, if I be gay, sir shrewe, 355 
I wol renne out, my borel for to shewe. 
Sire olde fool, what eyleth thee to 
spyen ? 
Thogh thou preye Argus, with his hun- 
dred yen, 
To be my warde-cors, as he can best. 
In feith, he shal nat kepe me but me 
lest ; 360 

Yet coude I make his herd, so moot I 
thee. 
Thou seydest eek, that ther ben thinges 
three, 
The whiche thinges troublen al this erthe, 
And that no wight ne may endure the 

ferthe; 
O leve sir shrewe, Icsushorte thylyf! 365 
Yet prechestow, and seyst, an hateful wyf 
Y-rekened is for oon of thise meschances. 
Been ther none othere maner resem- 
blances 
That ye may lykne your parables to, 
But-if a sely wyf be oon of tho? 370 

Thou lykenest wommanes love to helle. 
To bareyne lond, ther water may not 
dwelle. 



i6o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[373-450. 



Thou lyknest it also to wikle fyr; 

The more it brenneth, the more it liath 

desyr 
To consume every thing that brent \\o\ 



be. 



375 



Thou seyst, that right as wormes shendt 

a tree, 
Right so a wyf destroyeth hir housbonde; 
This knowe they that been to wyves 

bonde.' 
Lordinges, right thus, as ye have un- 

derstonde. 
Bar I stifiy myne olde housbondes on 

hontle, 3S0 

Tliat thus they seyden in hir dronkenesse ; 
And al was fals, but that I took witnesse 
On lanekin and on my nece also. 

lortl, the peyne 1 ilide hem and the wo, 
P^ul giltelees, by goddes swete pyne ! 3S5 
I'or as an hors I couile byte and whyne. 

1 coude pleyne, thogh I were in the gilt. 
Or ellcs often tyme hailde I ben spilt. 
Who-so that first to mille comth, first 

grint; 3S9 

I i^leyned first, so was our werre y-stint. 
They were ful glad to excusen hem ful 

blyve 
Of thing of which they never agilte hir 

lyve. 
Of wenches wolde I bcren him on 

honde, 
Whan that for syk unnethes mighte he 

stonde. 
Yet tikled it his herte, for that he 395 
Wenile that I hadde of him so greet 

chiertee. 
I swoorthatal my walUinge out by nighte 
Was for tespye wenches that he dighte; 
Under that colour hadde I many amirthe. 
For al swich wit is yeven us in our 

birthe; 400 

Deceite, weping, spinning god hath yive 
To wommen kindely, whyl they may live. 
And thus of o thing I avaunte me, 
Atte ende I hadde the bettre in ech de- 
gree, 
By sleighte, or force, or by som maner 

thing, 405 

As by continual murmur or grucching; 
Namely a-bedde hadden they mes- 

chaunce, 
Ther wolde I chyde and do hem no 

plesaunce; 



1 wolde no longer in the bed abyde. 
If that 1 fclte his arm over my sytie, 41a 
Til he had maad his raunson un-to me; 
Than wolde 1 suftVe him do his nycetee. 
And thcr-forc every man this tale 1 telle, 
Winne who-so may, for al is for to selle. 
With empty hantl men may none haukes 

lure; 415 

For w inning wolde I al his lust endure, 
And make me a feyned appetyt; 
And yet in bacon hatlde 1 never delyt; 
That made me that ever I wolde hem 

chyde. 
For thogh the pope had seten hem 

biside, 420 

I wolde nat spare hem at hir owene bord. 
For by my trouthe*, I quitte hem word for 

word. 
As help mo verray god omnipotent, 
Thogh 1 right now sholde make my 

testament, 
I ne owe hem nat a word that it nis quit. 
I broghte it so aboute by my wit, 426 
That they moste yeve it up, as for the 

l)este; 
Or olios hadde we never been in reste. 
I'or thogh he loked as a wood leoun. 
Vet sliolde he faille of his conclusioun. 430 
Thanne w^olde I seye, * gode lief, tak 

keep 
How mekely loketh Wilkin oure sheep; 
Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy 

cheke ! 
Ye sholde been al pacient and meke. 
Ami han a swete spyced conscience. 435 
Sith ye so preche of lobes pacience. 
Suffreth alwcy, sin ye so wel can preche; 
And but ye do, certein we shal yow teche 
That it is fair to have a wyf in pees. 
Oon of us two moste bowen, doutelees; 
And sith a man is more resonable 441 
Than womman is, ye moste been suffra- 
ge. 
What eyleth yow to grucche thus and 

grone? 
Is it for ye wolde have my queynte allone? 
Why taak it al, lo,haveit every-deel; 445 
Peter ! I shrewe yow but ye love it weel ! 
For if I wolde selle my Me chose, 
I coude walke as fresh as is a rose; 
But I wol kepe it for your owene tooth. 
Ye be to blame, by god, I sey yow 

so(ith.' 450 



451-532. 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



r6i 



Swiche mancr wordes hadde we on 
honde. 
Now wol 1 speken of my fourthc hous- 

bonde. 
^ My fourthe housbonde was a revelour, 
This is to seyn, he hadde a paramour; 
And I was yong and ful of ragerye, 455 
Stiborn and strong, and loly as a pye. 
Wei coude I daunce to an harpe smale, 
And singe, y-wis, as any nightingale, 
Whan I had dronke a draughte of svvete 

wyn. 
Metullius, the foule cherl, the swyn, 460 
That with a staf birafte his wyf hir lyf, 
For she drank wyn, thogh I hadde been 

his wyf, 
He sholde nat han daunted me fro drinke; 
And, after wyn, on Venus nioste I thinke : 
For al so siker as cold engenrlreth hayl, 
A likerous mouth moste han a likerous 
tayl. 466 

In womman vinolent is no defence, 
This knowen lechours by experience. 
But, lord Crist ! whan that it remem- 
Ijreth me 
Up-on my yowthe, and on my Tolitee, 470 
It tikleth me aboute myn herte rote. 
Unto this day it dooth myn herte bote 
That I have had my world as in mytymc. 
But age, alias ! that al wol envenyme, 
Hath me biraft my beautee and my 
pith; 475 

Lat go, fare-wel, the devel go therwith ! 
The flour is goon, ther is na-more to 

telle, 
The bren, as I best can, now moste I 

selle ; 
But yet to be right mery wol I fonde. 
No;v wol I tellen of my fourthe hous- 
bonde. 480 
I seye, I hadde in herte greet despyt 
That he of any other had delyt. 
But he was quit, by god and by seint loce ! 
I made him of the same wode acroce; 
Nat of my body in no foul manere, 485 
But certeinly, I made folk swich chere, 
That in his owene grece I made him 

frye 
For angre, and for verray lalousye. 
By god, in erthe I was his purgatorie. 
For which I hope his soule be in glorie. 
For god it woot, he sat ful ofte and 
song 491 



Whan that his shoo ful bitterly him 

wrong. 
Ther was no wight, save god and he, that 

wiste, 
In many wyse, how sore I him twiste. 
He deyde whan I cam fro lerusalem, 
And lyth y-grave under the rode-beem, 
Al is his tombe noghtso curious 497 

As was the sepulcre of him, Darius, 
Which that Appclles wroghte subtilly; 
It nis but wast to Ijurie him precicjusly. 
Lat him fare-wel, god yeve his soule 
reste, 301 

He is now in the grave and in his cheste. 
Now of my fifthe housbond wol I telle. 
God lete his soule never come in helle ! 
And yet was he to me the moste shrewe; 
That fele I on my ribbes al by rewe, 506 
Anr] ever shal, un-to myn ending-day. 
But in our bed he was so fresh and gay, 
And ther-with-al so wel c<mde he me 

glose, 
Whan that he wolde han my hele chose, 5 10 
That thogh he hadde me bet on every 

boon. 
He coude winne agayn my love anoon. 
I trowe I loved him beste, for that he 
Was of his love daungerous to me. 
We wommen han, if that I shal nat lye. 
In this matcre a queynte fantasye; 516 
Wayte what thing we may nat lightly 

have, 
Ther-after wol we crye al-day and crave. 
Forbede us thing, and that desyren we; 
Frees on us faste, and thanne wol we 
flee. 520 

With daunger oute we al our chaffare; 
Greet prees at market maketh dcre ware, 
And to greet cheep is holde at litel prys; 
This knoweth every womman that iswys. 
My fifthe housbonde, god his soule 



blesse ! 



525 



Which that I took for love and no 

richesse. 
He som-tyme was a clerk of Oxenford, 
And had left scole, and wente at hoom 

to bord 
With my gossib, dwellinge in oure toun, 
God have hir soule ! hir name was Ali- 

soun. 530 

She knew myn herte and eek my privetee 
Bet than our parisshe-preest, so moot I 

thee ! 



:62 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[533-613. 



To hir Ijiwrcyed T my conscil al. 

For had niyn iKJUsbondc i)issed on a wal, 

Or dcjon a thing that sholde han cost his 

lyf, 535 

To hir, and to another worthy wyf, 
And to my nece, which that I loved weel, 
1 wolde han told his conseil every-deel. 
And so I dide ful often, god it woot, 
That made his face ful often reed and 
hoot 540 

For verray shame, and blamed him-self 

f<;r he 
Had told to me so greet a privetee. 

And so bifel that ones, in a Lente, 
(So often tymes I to my gossib wente. 
For ever yet I lovede to be gay, 545 

And for to walke, in March, Averille, and 

May, 
Fro huus to hous, to here sondry talis), 
'I'hat lankin clerk, and my gossib deme 

Alis, 
And I my-self, in-to the feldes wente. 
Myn housbond was at London al that 
Lente; 550 

I hadde the bettre leyser for to pleye, 
And for to see, and eek for to be seye 
Of lusty folk; what wiste I wher my 

grace 
Was shapen for to be, or in what place? 
Therefore I made my visitacic^uns, 555 
To vigilies and to processiouns. 
To prcching eek and to thise pilgrimages. 
To pleyes of miracles and mariages, 
And wered upon my gaye scarlet gytes. 
Thise wormes, ne thise motthes, ne thise 
mytes, 560 

Upon my peril, frete hem never a deel; 
And wostuw why? for they were used 
weel. 
Now wol I tellen forth what happed 
me. 
I seye, that in the feeldes walked we. 
Til trewely we hadde swich daliance, 565 
This clerk and I, that of my purveyance 
I spak to him, and seyde him, how that 

he. 
If I were widwe, sholde wcdde me. 
For certeinly, I sey for no bobance, 
Yet was I never withouten purveyance 
Of mariage, nof (jthcre thinges eek. 571 
I holde a mouses hcrte nat worth a leek. 
That hath but oon hole for to sterte to, 
And if that faille, thanne is al y-do. 



I bar him on honde, he hadde en- 
chanted me; 575 
My dame taughte me that soutiltee. 
And eek I seyde, I mette of him al night; 
lie w<;lde han slayn me as I lay up-right, 
And al my bed was ful of verray blood, 
And yet I hope that he shal do me good; 
For blood bitokeneth gold, as me was 
taught. 581 
And al was fals, I dremed of it right 

naught, 
liut as I folwed ay my dames lore. 
As wel of this as of other thinges more. 
But now sir, lat me see, what I shal 
seyn? 585 

A ! ha ! by god, I have my talc ageyn. 
Whan that my fourthe housbond was 
on bere, 
I weep algate, and made sory chere, 
As vvyves moten, for it is usage. 
And with my covcrchief covered my vis- 
age; 590 
But for that I was purveyed of a make, 
I weep but smal, and that I undertake. 
To chirche was myn housbond born 
a-morwe 
With neighebores, that for him maden 

sorwe; 
And lankin oure clerk was oon of the 
As help me god, whan that I saugh him 

g^> 59^ 

After the bere, me thoughte he hadde a 

paire 
Of legges and of feet so clene and faire, 
That al myn herte I yaf un-to his hold. 
He was, I trowe, a twenty winter old. 
And I was fourty, if I shal seye sooth; 
But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth. 
Gat-tothed I was, and that bicam me 

weel ; 604 

I hadde the prente of seynt Venus seel. 
As help me god, I was a lusty oon, 
And faire and riche, and yong, and wel 

bigoon; 
And trewely, as myne housbondes tolde 

me, 
I had the beste quoniam mighte be. 
F(jr ccrtcs, I am al Venerien 
In felinge.and myn herte is Marcien. 610 
Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse. 
And Mars yaf me my sturdy hardincsse. 
Myn ascendent was Taur, and Mars ther- 

inne. 



614-702.] 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



163 



Alias ! alias ! that ever love was sinne ! 
I folwed ay niyn inclinacioun 615 

By vertu of my constellacioun; 
That made me I coude noght withdrawe 
My chambre of Venus from a good 

felawe. 
Yet have I Martes mark up-on my face, 
And also in another privee place. 620 
For, god so wis be my savaciuun, 
I ne loved never by no discrecioun 
But ever folwede myn appetyt, 
Al were he short or long, or blak or 

whyt ; 
I took no kepe, so that he lyked me, 625 
How pore he was, ne eek of what degree. 
What sholde I seye, but, at the 

monthes ende, 
This loly clerk lankin, that was so hende, 
Hath wedded me with greet solempnitee, 
And to him yaf 1 al the lond and fee 630 
That ever was me yeven ther-bifore; 
But afterward repented me full sore. 
He nolde suffre nothing of my list. 
By god, he suioot me ones on the list, 
F'or that I rente out of his book a leef. 
That of the strook myn ere wex al deef. 
Stiborn 1 was as is a leonesse, 637 

And of my tonge a verray langleresse, 
And walke I wolde, as I had doon bi- 

forn. 
From hous to hous, al-though he had it 

sworn. 640 

For which he often tymes wolde preche, 
And me of olde Romayn gestes teche. 
Flow he, Simplicius Gallus, lefte his 

wyf, 
And hir forsook for terme of al his lyf, 
Noght but for open-heeded he hir say 
Lokinge out at his dore upon a day. 646 
Another Romayn tolde he me by name, 
That, for his wyf was at a someres game 
With-oute his witing, he forsook hir eke. 
And than wolde he up-on his Bible seke 
That ilke proverbe of Ecclesiaste, 651 
Wher he comandeth and forbedeth faste, 
Man shal nat suffre his wyf go roule 

aboute ; 
Than wolde he seye right thus, with-outen 

doute, 
" Who-so that buildeth his hous al of 

salwes, 655 

And priketh his blinde hors over the 

falwes, 



And suffreth his wyf to go seken halwes, 
Is worthy to been hanged on the 

galwes ! " 
But al for noght, I sette noght an hawe 
Of his proverbes nof his olde sawe, 660 
Ne I wolde nat of him corrected be. 
I hate him that my vices telleth me, 
And so do mo, god woot ! of us than I. 
Thus made him with me wood al outrely; 
I nolde noght forbere him in no cas. 665 
Now wol 1 seye yow sooth, by seint 

Thomas, 
Why that I rente out of his book a leef, 
For which he smoot me so that I was 

deef. 
He hadde a book that gladly, night 

and day, 
For his desport he wolde rede alway. 670 
He cleped it Valerie and Theofraste, 
At whiche book he lough alwey ful 

faste. 
And eek ther was som-tyme a clerk at 

Rome, 
A cardinal, that highte Seint lerome, 
That made a book agayn lovinian ; 675 
In whiche book eek ther was Tertulan, 
Crisippus, Trotula, and Helowys, 
That was abbesse nat fer fro Parys; 
And eek the Paral)les of Salomon, 
Ovydes Art, and bokes many on, 680 

And alle thise wer bounden in o volume. 
And every night and day was his custume, 
Whan he had leyser and vacacioun 
Yrom other worldly occupacioun, 684 
To reden on this book of wikked wyves. 
He knew of hem mo legendes and lyves 
Than been of gode wyves in the Bil)le. 
For trusteth wel, it is an impossible 
That any clerk wol speke good of wyves, 
But-if it be of holy seintes lyves, 690 

Ne of noon other womman never the mo. 
Who peyntede the leoun, tel me who? 
By god, if wommen hadde writen stories, 
As clerkes han with-inne hir oratories. 
They wolde han writen of men more wik- 

kednesse 695 

Than all the mark of Adam may redresse. 
The children of Mercuric and of Venus 
Been in hir wirking ful contrarious; 
Mercuric loveth wisdom and science. 
And Venus loveth ryot and dispence. 700 
And, for hir diverse disposicioun, 
Ech fallcth in others exaltacioun; 



[64 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[703-775- 



And thus, god woot ! Mercuric is desolat 

In Pisces, wher Venus is axaltat; 

And Venus falleth wher Mercuric is 

reysed; 705 

Therforc no vvomman of no clerk is 

preysed. 
The clerk, whan he is old, and may 

noght do 
Of Venus werkes worth his olde sho, 
Than sit he doun, and writ in his dotage 
That wommen can nat kepe hir niariagc ! 
But now to purpos, why I tolde thee 71 1 
That I was beten for a book, pardee. 
Up-on a night lankin, that was our syre, 
Redde on his book, as he sat by the fyre, 
Of Eva first, that, for hir wikkednesse, 715 
Was al mankinde broght to wrecched- 

nesse. 
For which that lesu Crist him-self was 

slayn. 
That boghte us with his herte-blood 

agayn, 
Lo, here expres of womman may ye findc, 
That womman was the los of al man- 
kinde. 720 
Tho redde he me how Sampson loste 

his heres, 
Slepinge, his lennnan kitte hem with hir 

sheres; 
Thurgh whiche tresoun loste he bothe 

his yen. 
Tho redde he me, if that I shal nat 

lyen, 
Of Hercules and of his Dianyre, 725 

That caused him to sette himself a- fyre. 
No-thing forgat he the penaunce and 

wo 
That Socrates had with hise wyves two; 
How Xantippa caste pisse up-on his 

heerl; 
This sely man sat stille, as he were 

deed ; 730 

He wyped his heed, namore dorste he 

seyn 
But " er that thonder stinte, comth a 

reyn." 
Of Phasipha, that was the queue of 

Crete, 
For shrewednesse, him thoughte the talc 

swete; 
Fy ! spek na-more — it is a grisly thing — 
Of hir horrible lust and hir lyking. 736 
Of Clitemistra, for hir Iccherye, 



That falsly made hir housbond for to dye, 
He redde it with ful good devocioun. 

He tolde me eck for what occasioun 
Amphiurax at Thebes loste his lyf; 741 
Myn housbond hadde a legende of his 

wyf, 
Eriphilcm, that for an ouche of gold 
Math prively un-to the Grekes told 
Wher that hir housbonde hidde him in a 

place, 745 

For which he hadde at Thebes sory grace. 

Of Lyma tolde he me, and of Lucye, 
They bothe made hir housl)ondes for to 

dye; 
That oon for love, that other was for 

hate; 
Lyma hir housbond, on an even late, 750 
Empoysoned hath, for that she was his fo. 
Lucya, likcrous, loved hir housbond so, 
That, for he sholde alvvey up-on hir 

thinke. 
She yaf him svvich a maner love-drinke. 
That he was deed, er it were by the 

morwe; 755 

And thus algates housbondes han sorwe. 
Than tolde he me, how oon Latumius 
Compleyned to his felawe Arrius, 
That in his gardin growed svvich a tree. 
On which, he seyde, how that his wyves 

three 760 

Hanged hem-self for herte despitous. 
" O leve brother," quod this Arrius, 
" Yif me a plante of thilke blissed tree, 
And in my gardin planted shal it be ! " 
Of latter date, of wyves hath he red, 
That somme han slayn hir housbondes in 

hir bed, 766 

And lete hir lechour dighte hir al the 

night 
Whyl that the corps lay in the floor up- 
right. 
And somme han drive nayles in hir brayn 
Whyl that they slepte, and thus they han 

hem slayn. 770 

Somme han hem yeve poysoun in hir 

drinke. 
He spak more harm than herte may 

bithinke. 
And ther-with-al, he knew of, mo pro- 

verbes 
Than in this world ther growen gras or 

herbes. 
*' Bet is," quod he, " thyn habitacioun 775 



776-8480 



D. THE WIFE OF BATH'S PROLOGUE. 



165 



Be with a leoun or a foul dragoun, 
Than with a womman usinge for to chyde. 
Bet is," quod he, " hye in the roof abyde 
Than with an angry wyf doun in the 

hous; 
They been so wikked and contrarious; 
They haten that hit housbondes loveth 

ay." 781 

He seyde, " a womman cast hir shame 

away, 
Whan she cast of hir smok; " and 

forther-mo, 
" A fair womman, but she be chaast also. 
Is lyk a gold ring in a sowes nose." 785 
Wlio vvolde wenen, or who wolde sup- 
pose 
The wo that in myn herte was, and pyne? 
And whan I saugh he wolde never 

fyne 
To reden on this cursed book al night, 
Al sodeynly three leves have I plight 
Out of this book, right as he radde, and 

eke, 791 

I with my fist so took him on the cheke. 
That in our fyr he fil bakward adoun. 
And he up-stirte as dooth a wood leoun. 
And with his fist he smoot me on the 

heed, 795 

That in the floor I lay as I were deed. 
And when he saugh how stille that I lay, 
He was agast, and wolde han fled his 

way, 
Til atte laste out of my swogh I breyde : 
" O ! hastow slayn me, false theef ? " I 

seyde, 800 

" And for my land thus hastow mordred 

me? 
Er I be deed, yet wol I kisse thee." 
And neer he cam, and kneled faire 

adoun, 
And seyde, " dere suster Alisoun, 
As help me god, I shal thee never 

sniyte ; 805 

That I have doon, it is thy-self to wyte. 
Foryeve it me, and that I thee biseke" — 
And yet eft-sones I hitte him on the 

cheke. 
And seyde, " theef, thus muchel am I 

wreke; 
Now wol I dye, I may no lenger speke." 
But atte laste, with muchel care and wo, 
We fiUe acorded, by us selven two. 812 
He yaf me al the brydel in mj'n hond 



To han the governaunce of hous and 

lond, 
And of his tonge and of his hond also, 
And made him brenne his book anon 

right tho. 816 

And whan that I hadde geten un-to me, 
By maistrie, al the soveraynetee. 
And that he seyde, " myn owene trewe 

wyf, 
Do as thee lust the terme of al thy lyf, 
Keep thyn honour, and keep eek myn 

estaat"— 821 

After that day we hadden never debaat. 
God help me so, I was to him as kinde 
As any wyf from Denmark un-to Inde, 
And also trewe, and so was he to me. 
I prey to god that sit in magestee, 826 
So blesse his soule, for his mercy dere ! 
Now wol I seye my tale, if ye wol here.' 



Biholde the wordes bittveen the Somon- 
our and the Frere. 

The Frere lough, whan he hadde herd 

al this, 
* Now, dame,' quod he, * so have I loye or 

blis, 830 

This is a long preamble of a tale ! * 
And whan the Somnour herde the Frere 

gale, 
' Lo ! ' quod the Somnour, * goddes 

armes two ! 
A frere wol entremette him ever-mo. 
Lo, gode men, a flye and eek a frere 835 
Who falle in every dish and eek matere. 
What spekestow of preambulacioun? 
What ! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go 

sit doun; 
Thou lettest our disport in this manere.' 
'Ye, woltow so, sir Somnour?' quod 

the Frere, 840 

'Now% by my feith, I shal, er that I go. 
Telle of a Somnour swich a tale or two. 
That alle the folk shal laughen in this 

place.' 
'Now elles, Frere, I bishrewe thy 

face,' 
Quod this Somnour, ' and I bishrewe me, 
But-if I telle tales two or thre 846 

Of freres er I come to Sidingborne, 
That I shal make thyn herte for to 

morne ; 



[66 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[849-913. 



For wel I woot thy pacience is goon.' 
Our hoste cryde ' pees ! and that 

anoon ! ' 850 

And seyde, * lat the womman telle hir 

tale. 
Ye fare as folk that dronken been of 

ale. 



Do, dame, tel forth your tale, and that is 
best.' 

* Al redy, sir,' quod she, * right as yow 
lest, 

If I have licence of this worthy Frere.' 

* Yis, dame,' quod he, ' tel forth, and I 
wol here.' 856 

Here endeth the Wyf of Bathe hir Prologe, 



THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE. 



Here biginneth the Tale of the Wyf of 
Bathe. 

In tholde dayes of the king Arthour, 
Of which that Britons speken greet hon- 
our, 
Al was this land fulfild of fayerye. 859 
The elf-queen, with hir loly companye, 
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede; 
This was the olde opinion, as I rede. 
I speke of manye hundred yeres ago; 
But now can no man see none elves mo. 
For now the grete charitee and pray- 
eres 865 

Of limitours and othere holy freres, 
That serchen every lond and every streem. 
As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem, 
Blessinge halles, chambres, kichenes, 

boures, 
Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures, 870 
Thropes, hemes, shipnes, dayeryes, 
This maketh that ther l)een no fayeryes. 
For ther as wont to walken was an elf, 
Ther walketh now the limitour him-self 
In unflermeles and in morweninges, 875 
And seyth his matins and his holy thinges 
As he goth in his limitacioun. 
Wommen may go saufly up and doun. 
In every bush, or under every tree; 
There is noon other incubus but he, 880 
And he ne wol doon hem hwi dishonour. 
And so bifcl it, that this king Arthour 
Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler. 
That on a day cam rydinge fro river; 
And happed that, allone as she was 
born, 885 

He saugh a mayde walkinge him l^iforn. 
Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed, 
By verray force he rafte hir maydenheed; 



For which oppressioun was swich clamour 
And swich pursute un-to the king Ar- 
thour, 890 
That dampned was this knight for to be 

deed 
By cours of lawc, and sholde han lost his 

heed 
Paraventure, swich was the statut tho; 
But that the quene and othere ladies mo 
So longe preyeden the king of grace, 895 
Til he his lyf him graunted in the place. 
And yaf him to the quene al at hir 

wille, 
To chese, whether slie wolde him save or 

spille. 
The quene thanketh the king with al 

her might. 
And after this thus spak she to the 

knight, 900 

Whan that she saugh hir tyme, up-on a 

day: 
* Thou standest yet,' quod she, * in swich 

array. 
That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee. 
I grante thee lyf, if thou canst tellen me 
What thing is it that wommen most de- 
syren ? 905 
Be war, and keep thy nekke-boon from 

yren. 
And if thou canst nat tellen it anon, 
Yet wol I yeve thee leve for to gon 
A twelf-month and a day, to seche and 

lere 
An answere suffisant in this matere. 910 
And suretee wol I han, er that thou 

pace. 
Thy body for to yelden in this place,' 
Wo was this knight and sorwe fully he 

syketh ; 



914-989-] 



D. THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE. 



167 



But what ! he may nat do al as him lyk- 

eth. 
And at the laste, he chees him for to 

wende, 915 

And come agayn, right at the yeres ende, 
With svvich answere as god wolde him 

purveye ; 
And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth 

his weye. 
He seketh every hous and every place, 
Wher-as he hopeth for to finde grace, 920 
To lerne, what thing wunimen loven most; 
But he ne coude arryven in no cost, 
Wher-as he mighte finde in this matere 
Two creatures accordinge in-fere. 

Somme seyde, wommen loven best 

richesse, 925 

Somme seyde, honour, somme seyde, 

lolynesse ; 
Somme, riche array, somme seyden, lust 

abedde. 
And ofte tyme to be widwe and wedde. 
Somme seyde, that our hertes been 

most esed, 
Whan that we been y-jflatered and 

y-plesed. 930 

He gooth ful ny the sothe, I wol nat lye; 
A man shal winne us best with flaterye; 
And with attendance, and with Ijisinesse, 
Been we y-lymed, bothe more and lesse. 
And somme seyn, how that we loven 

best 935 

For to be free, and do right as us lest. 
And that no man repreve us of our vyce. 
But seye that we be wyse, and no-thing 

nyce. 
For trewely, ther is noon of us alle, 939 
If any wight wol clawe us on the galle. 
That we nil kike, for he seith us Sooth; 
Assay, and he shal finde it that so dooth. 
For be we never so vicious with-inne, 
We wol been holden wyse, and clene of 

sinne. 
And somme seyn, that greet delyt han 

we 945 

For to ben holden stable and eek secree. 
And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle. 
And nat bivvreye thing that men us telle. 
But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele; 
Pardee, we wommen conne no-thing 

hele; 950 

Witnesse on Myda; wol ye here the tale? 

Ovyde, amonges othere thinges smale, 



Seyde, Myda hadde, under his longe heres, 
Growinge up-on his heed two asses eres, 
The which vyce he hidde, as he best 

mighte, 955 

Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte. 
That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it na-mo. 
He loved hir most, and trusted hir also; 
He preyede hir, that to no creature 
She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960 
She swoor him ' nay, for al this world 

to winne. 
She nolde do that vileinye or sinne, 
To make hir housbond han so foul a 

name; 
She nolde nat telle it for hir owene 

shame.' 
But nathelees, hir thoughte that she 

dyde, 965 

That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; 
Hir thoughte it swal so sore aboute hir 

herte. 
That nedely som word hir moste asterte; 
And sith she dorste telle it to no man, 
Doun to a mareys faste by she ran; 970 
Til she cam there, hir herte was a-fyre, 
And, as a bitc^re bombleth in the myre. 
She leyde hir mouth un-to the water 

doun : 
* Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy 

soun,' 
Quod she, ' to thee I telle it, and 

namo; 975 

Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two ! 
Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute; 
I mighte no lenger kepe it, out of doute.' 
Heer may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde, 
Yet out it moot, we can no conseil 

hyde; 9S0 

The remenant of the tale if ye wol here, 
Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere. 
This knight, of which my tale is spe- 
cially. 
Whan that he saugh he mighte nat come 

therby, 
This is to seye, what wommen loven 

moost, 985 

With-inne his brest ful sorweful was the 

goost; 
But hoom he gooth, he mighte nat so- 

iourne. 
The day was come, that hoomward moste 

he tourne, 
And in his wey it happed him to ryde, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[990-1059. 



In al this care, under a forest-syde, 990 
Wher-as he saugh up-on a daunce go 
Of ladies foure and twenty, and yet mo; 
Toward the whiche daunce he drew ful 

yerne, 
In hope that som wisdom sholde he 

lerne. 
But certeinly, er he came fully there, 995 
Vanisshed was this daunce, he niste 

where. 
No creature saugh he that bar lyf, 
Save on the grene he saugh sittinge a 

wyf; 
A fouler wight ther may no man devyse. 
Agayn the knight this olde wyf gan 

ryse, 1000 

And seyde, 'sir knight, heer-forth ne 

lyth no wey. 
Tel me, what that ye seken, by your fey? 
Paraventure it may the bettre be; 
Thise olde folk can muchel thing,' quod 

she. 

* My leve mooder,' quod this knight 

certeyn, 1005 

* I nam but deed, but-if that I can seyn 
What thing it is that wommen most 

desyre; 
Coude ye me wisse, I wolde wel quyte 
your hyre.' 

* Plighte me thy trouthe, heer in myn 

hand,' quod she, 

* The nexte thing that I requere thee, lOio 
Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy might; 
And I wol telle it yow er it be night.' 

* Have heer my trouthe,' quod the knight, 

' I grante.' 

* Thanne,' quod she, ' I dar me wel 

avante, 1014 

Thy lyf is sauf, for I wol stonde therby, 
Up-on my lyf, the queen wol seye as I. 
Lat see which is the proudeste of hem 

alle, 
That wereth on a coverchief or a calle. 
That dar seye nay, of that I shal thee 

teche; 
Lat us go forth with-outen lenger speche.' 
Tho rouned she a pistel in his ere, 1021 
And bad him to be glad, and have no 

fere. 
Whan they be comen to the court, this 

knight 
Seyde, ' he had holde his day, as he 

hadde hight, 



And redy was his answere,' as he sayde. 
Ful many a noble wyf, and many a 

mayde, 1026 

And many a widwe, for that they ben 

wyse, 
The quene hir-self sittinge as a lustyse, 
Asseml)led been, his answere for to here; 
And afterward this knight v^-as bode 

appere. 1030 

To every wight comanded was silence, 
And that the knight sholde telle in audi- 
ence, 
What thing that worldly wommen loven 

best. 
This knight ne stood nat stille as doth a 

best, 
But to his questioun anon answerde 1035 
With manly voys, that al the court it 

herde : 
* My lige lady, generally,' quod he, 

* Wommen desyreu to have sovereyntee 
As wel over hir housbond as hir love, 
And for to been in maistrie him above ; 
This is your moste desyr, thogh ye me 

kille, 1041 

Doth as yow list, I am heer at your wille.' 

In al the court ne was ther wyf ne 

mayde, 
Ne widwe, that contraried that he sayde. 
But seyden, * he was worthy han his lyf.' 
And with that word up stirte the olde 

wyf, 1046 

Which that the knight saugh sittinge in 

the grene : 

* Mercy,' quod she, * my sovereyn lady 

quene ! 
Er that your court departe, do me right. 
I taughte this.' answere un-to the knight; 
For which he plighte me his trouthe 

there, 105 1 

The firste thing I wolde of him requere, 
He wolde it do, if it lay in his might. 
Bifore the court than preye I thee, sir 

knight,' 
Quod she, ' that thou me take un-to thy 

wyf; 1055 

For wel thou wost that I have kept thy 

lyf. 
If I sey fals, sey nay, up-on thy fey ! ' 
This knignt answerde, ' alias ! and 

weylawey ! 
I woot right wel that swich was my 

biheste. 



1060-1137. D. THE TALE OF THE WYF OF BATHE. 



[69 



For goddes love, as chees a newe re- 

queste; 1060 

Tak al my good, and lat my body go.' 
'Nay than,' quod she, *I shrewe us 

bothe two ! 
For thogh that I be foul, and old, and 

pore, 
I nolde for al the metal, ne for ore, 
That under erthe is grave, or lyth 

above, 1065 

But-if thy wyf I were, and eek thy love.' 

'My love?' quod he; * nay, my 

dampnacioun ! 
Alias ! that any of my nacioun 
Sholde ever so foule disparaged be ! ' 
But al for noght, the ende is this, that 

he 1070 

Constreyned was, he nedes moste hir 

wedde ; 
And taketh his olde wyf, and gooth to 

bedde. 
Now wolden som men seye, paraven- 

ture. 
That, for my necligence, I do no cure 
To tellen yow the loye and al tharray 
That at the feste was that ilke day. 1076 
To whiche thing shortly answere I shal; 
I seye, ther nas no loye ne feste at al, 
Ther nas but hevinesse and muche sorwe; 
For prively he wedded hir on a morwe. 
And al day after hidde him as an 

oule; 1 08 1 

So wo was him, his wyf looked so foule. 

Greet was the wo the knight hadde in 

his thoght. 
Whan he was with his wyf a-bedde 

y-broght; 
He walweth, and he turne^h to and fro. 
His olde wyf lay smylinge evermo, 1086 
And seyde, *o dere housbond, benedicite ! 
Fareth every knight thus with his wyf as 

ye? 
Is this the lawe of king Arthures hous? 
Is every knight of his so dangerous? 1090 
I am your owene love and eek your wyf; 
I am she, which that saved hath your lyf; 
And certes, yet dide I yow never unright; 
Why fare ye thus with me this tirste 

night? 
Ye faren lyk a man had losihis wit; 1095 
What is my giit? for goddes love, tel me 

it, 
And it shal been amended, if 1 may.' 



* Amended?' quod this knight, 'alias! 
nay, nay ! 
It wol nat been amended never mo ! 
Thou art so loothly, and so old also, 1 100 
And ther-to comen of so lowe a kinde. 
That litel wonder is, thogh I walwe and 

winde. 
So wolde god myn herte wolde breste ! ' 
' Is this,' quod she, ' the cause of your 

unreste?' 
*Ye, certainly,' quod he, 'no wonder 
is.' 1 105 

' Now, sire,' quod she, ' I coude amende 
al this. 
If that me liste, er it were dayes three, 
So wel ye mighte bere yow un-to me. 

But for ye speken of swich gentillesse 
As is descended out of old richesse, 1 1 10 
That therfore sholden ye be gentil men, 
Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen. 
Loke who that is most vertuous alway, 
Privee and apert, and most entendeth ay 
To do the gentil dedes that he can, 11 15 
And tak him for the grettest gentil man. 
Crist wol, we clayme of him our gen- 
tillesse, 
Nat of our eldres for hir old richesse. 
For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage. 
For which we clayme to been of heigh 
parage, 11 20 

Yet may they nat biquethe, for no-thing, 
To noon of us hir vertuous living. 
That made hem gentil men y-called be; 
And bad us folwen hem in swich degree. 

Wel can the wyse poete of Florence, 
That highte Dant, speken in this sen- 
tence; 1 1 26 
Lo in swich maner rym is Dantes tale : 
" Ful selde up ryseth by his branches 

smale 
Prowesse of man, for god, of his good- 

nesse, 
Wol that of him we clayme our gen- 
tillesse; " 1 1 30 
For of our eldres may we no-thing clayme 
But temporel thing, that man may hurte 
and mayme. 
Eek every wight wot this as wel as I, 
If gentillesse were planted naturelly 
Un-to a certeyn linage, doun the lyne, 
Privee ne apert, than wolde they never 
fyne 1136 
To doon of gentillesse the faire offyce; 



[70 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1138-1218. 



They mighte do no vileinye or vyce. 
Tak fyr, and ber it in the derkeste 

hous 
Bitwix this and the mount of Caucasus, 
And lat men shette the dores and go 

thenne; 1141 

Yet wol the fyr as faire lye and brenne, 
As twenty thousand men mighte it bi- 

holde; 
His office naturel ay wol it holde, 
Up peril of my lyf, til that it dye. 1145 
Heer may ye see wel, how that gen- 

terye 
Is nat annexed to possessioun, 
Sith folk ne doon hir operacioun 
Alvvey, as dooth the fyr, lo ! in his kinde. 
For, god it woot, men may wel often 

linde 1 1 50 

A lordes sone do shame and vileinye; 
And he that wol han prys of his gentrye 
For he was boren of a gentil hous, 
And hadde hise eldrcs noljle and vertuous, 
And nil him-selven do no gentle dedis, 
Ne folwe his gentil aunccstre that deed 

is, 1 156 

He nis nat gentil, be he duk or erl; 
For vileyns sinful dedes make a cherl. 
For gentillesse nis but renomee 
Of thyne auncestres, for hir heigh boun- 

tee, 1 1 60 

Which is a strange thing to thy persone. 
Thy gentillesse cometh fro god allone; 
Than comth our verray gentillesse of 

grace. 
It was no-thing biquethe us with our 

place. 
Thenketh how noble, as seith Valerius, 
Was thilke TuUius Hostilius, 1 166 

That out of povert roos to heigh noblesse. 
Redeth Senek, and redeth eek Boece, 
Ther shul ye seen expres it that no drede 

is. 
That he is gentil that doth gentil dedis; 
And therfore, leve housbond, I thus con- 
clude, 1 171 
Al were it that myne auncestres were 

rude. 
Yet may the hye god, and so hope I, 
Grante me grace to liven vertuously. 
Thanne am I gentil, whan that I biginne 
To liven vertuously and weyve sinne. 

And ther-as ye of povert me repreve, 
The hye god, on whom that we bileve, 



In wilful povert chees to live his lyf. 1 179 
And certes every man, mayden, or wyf. 
May understonde that lesus, hevene king, 
Ne wolde nat chese a vicious living. 
Glad povert is an honest thing, certeyn; 
This wol Senek and othere clerkes seyn. 
Who-so that halt him payd of his pov- 

erte, 11 85 

I holde him riche, al hadde he nat a 

sherte. 
lie that coveyteth is a povre wight, 
For he wolde han that is nat in his 

might. 
But he that noght hath, ne coveyteth 

have. 
Is riche, al-though ye holde him but a 

knave. 1190 

.Verray povert, it singeth proprely; 
luvenal seith of povert merily : 
" The povre man, whan he goth by the 

weye, 
Bifore the theves he may singe and 

pleye." 
Povert is hateful good, and, as I gesse, 
A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; 
A greet amender eek of sapience 1197 
To him that taketh it in pacience. 
Povert is this, although it seme elenge : 
Possessioun, that no wight wol chalenge. 
Povert ful ofte, whan a man is lowe, 
Maketh his god and eek him-self to 

knowe. 1 202 

Povert a spectacle is, as thinketh me, 
Thurgh which he may his verray frendes 

see. 
And therfore, sire, sin that I noght yow 

greve, 1205 

Of my povert na-more ye me repreve. 

Now, sire, of elde ye repreve me; 
And certes, sire, thogh noon auctoritee 
Were in no book, ye gentils of honour 
Seyn that men sholde an old wight doon 

favour, 1 210 

And clepe him fader, for your gentillesse; 
And auctours shal I tinden, as I gesse. 
Now ther ye seye, that I am foul and 

old, 
Than drede you noght to been a coke- 
wold; 1 214 
For filthe and elde, al-so moot I thee, 
Been grete wardeyns up-on chastitee. 
But nathelees, sin 1 knowe your delyt, 
I shal fulfille your worldly appetyt. 



I2I9-I285.] 



D. THE FRIAR'S PROLOGUE. 



171 



Chees now,' quod she, 'oon of thise 

thinges tvveye, 1219 

To han me foul and old til that I deye, 
And be to yovv a trewe humble wyf, 
And never yow displese in al my lyf, 
Or elles ye wol han me yong and fair, 
And take your aventure of the repair 
That shal be to your hous, by-cause of 

me, 1225 

Or in som other place, may wel be. 
Now chees your-selven, whether that 

yow lyketh.' 
This knight avyseth him and sore 

syketh, 
But atte laste he seyde in this manere, 
* My lady and my love, and wyf so dere, 
1 put me in your wyse governance; 1231 
Cheseth your-self, which may be most 

plesance, 
And most honour to yow and me also. 
I do no fors the whether of the two; 
For as yow lyketh, it sufiiseth me.' 1235 
' Thanne have I gete of yow maistrye,' 

quod she, 
*Sin I may chese, and governe as me 

lest?' 

* Ye, certes, wyf,' quod he, ' I holde it 

best.' 

* Kis me,' quod she, * we be no lenger 

wrothe; 
For, by my trouthe, I wol be to yow 
bothe, 1240 

Here endeth the IVy 



This is to seyn, ye, bothe fair and good. 
I prey to god that I mot sterven wood. 
But I to yow be al-so good and trewe 
As ever was wyf, sin that the world was 

newe. 
And, but I be to-morn as fair to sene 
As any lady, emperyce, or queue, 1246 
That is bitwixe the est and eke the west, 
Doth with my lyf and deeth right as yow 

lest. 
Cast up the curtin, loke how that it is.' 
And whan the knight saugh verraily 

al this, 1250 

That she so fair was, and so yong ther-to. 
For loye he hente hir in his amies two. 
His herte bathed in a bath of blisse; 
A thousand tyme a-rewe he gan hir 

kisse. 
And she obeyed him in everything 121^5 
That mighte doon him plesance or lyk- 

ing. 
And thus they live, un-to hir lyves 

ende. 
In parfit loye; and lesu Crist us sende 
Housbondes meke, yonge, and fresshe 

a-bedde, 
And grace toverbyde hem that we 

wedde. 1260 

And eek I preye lesu shorte hir lyves 
That wol nat be governed by hir wyves; 
And olde and angry nigardes of dispence, 
God sende hem sone verray pestilence. 
'ves Tale of Bathe. 



THE FRIAR'S PROLOGUE. 



The Prologe of the Freres tale. 

This worthy limitour, this noble Frere 
He made alwey a maner louring chere 
Upon the Somnour, but for honestee 1267 
No vileyns word as yet to him spak he. 
But atte laste he seyde un-to the Wyf, 
' Dame,' quod he, ' god yeve yow right 



good lyf! 



270 



Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee, 

In scole-matere greet difficultee; 

Ye han seyd muchel thing right wel, I 

seye; 
But dame, here as we ryden by the weye, 



Us nedeth nat to speken but of 
game, 1275 

And lete auctoritees, on goddes name. 
To preching and to scole eek of clergye. 
But if it lyke to this companye 
I wol yow of a somnour telle a game. 
Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the 
name, 1280 

That of a somnour may no good be 

sayd ; 
I pray that noon of j^ou be yvel apayd. 
A somnour is a renner up and doun 
With mandements for fornicacioun, 
And is y-bet at every tounes ende.' 1285 



[72 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1286-1349. 



Our host tho spak, ' a ! sire, ye sholde 
be hende 
And curteys, as a man of your estaat; 
In companye we wol have no debaat. 
Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.' 
' Nay,' quod the Somnour, ' lat him 
seye to me 1290 

What so him list; whan it conith to my 
lot. 



By god, I shal him quyten every grot. 
I shal him tellen which a greet honour 
It is to be a flateringe limitour; 
And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.' 
Our host answerde, ' pees, na-more of 
this.' 1296 

And after this he seyde un-to the Frere, 
* Tel forth your tale, leve meister 
deere.' 



Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere. 



THE FRERES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Freres tale. 

Whilom ther was dwellinge in my con- 
tree 
An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree. 
That boldely dide execucioun 1 301 

In punisshinge of fornicacioun. 
Of wicchecraft, and eek of bauderye. 
Of diffamacioun, and avoutrye, 
Of chirche-reves, and of testaments, 1305 
Of contractes, and of lakke of sacraments. 
And eek of many another maner cryme 
Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; 
Of usure, and of symonye also. 
But certes, lechours dide he grettest 

wo; 1 3 10 

They sholde singen, if that they were 

hente; 
An smale tytheres weren foule y-shent. 
If any persone wolde up-on hem pleyne, 
Ther mighte asterte him no pecunial 

peyne 1314 

For smale tythes and for smal offringe. 
He made the peple pitously to singe. 
For er the bisshop caughte hem with his 

hook. 
They weren in the erchedeknes book. 
Thanne hadde he, thurgh his lurisdic- 

cioun, 
Power to doon on hem correccioun. 1320 
He hadde a Somnour redy to his bond, 
A slyer boy was noon in Engelond; 
For subtilly he hadde his espiaille 
That taughte him, wher that him mighte 

availle. 1324 

He coude spare of lechours oon or two, | 



To techen him to foure and twenty mo. 
For thogh this Somnour wood were as an 

hare. 
To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare; 
For we been out of his correccioun; 
They han of us no lurisdiccioun, 1330 
Ne never shullen, terme of alle hir lyves. 
' Peter ! so been the wommen of the 

styves,' 
Quod the Somnour, 'y-put out of my 

cure ! ' 
* Pees, with mischance and with mis- 

aventure,' 
Thus seyde our host, * and lat him telle 

his tale. 1335 

Now telleth forth, thogh that the Som- 
nour gale, 
Ne spareth nat myn owene maister dere.' 
This false theef, this Somnour, quod 

the Frere, 
Hadde alvvey baudes redy to his bond, 
As any hauk to lure in Engelond, 1340 
That tolde him al the secree that they 

knewe; 
For hir acqueyntance was nat come of- 

newe. 
They weren hise approwours prively; 
He took him-self a greet profit therby; 
His maister knew nat alwey what he 

wan. 1345 

With-outen mandement, a lewed man 
He coude somne, on peyne of Cristes 

curs, 
And they were gladde for to fille his 

purs. 
And make him grete festes atte nale. 



[350-1429.] 



D. THE FRERES TALE. 



73 



And right as ludas hadde purses smale, 
And was a theef, right swich a theef was 
he; 1351 

His maister hadde but half his duetee. 
He was, if I shal yeven him his laude, 
A theef, and eek a Somnour, and a 



baude. 



54 



He hadde eek wenches at his retenue. 
That, whether that sir Robert or sir Huwe, 
Or lakke, or Rauf, or who-so that it were. 
That lay by hem, they told it iii his ere; 
Thus was the wenche and he of oon assent. 
And he wolde fecche a feyned mande- 
ment, 1360 

And somne hem to the chapitre bothe 

two. 
And pile the man, and lete the wenche 

go- 
Thanne wolde he seye, * frend, I shal for 

thy sake 
Do stryken hir out of our lettres blake; 
Thee thar na-more as in this cas tra- 
vaille; 1365 

I am thy freend, ther I thee may availle.' 
Certeyn he knew of bryberyes mo 
Than possible is to telle in yeres two. 
For in this world nis dogge for the bowe, 
That can an hurt deer from an hool 
y-knowe, 1370 

Bet than this Somnour knew a sly lechour. 
Or an avouter, or a paramour. 
And, for that was the fruit of al his rente, 
Therfore on it he sette al his entente. 

And so bifel, that ones on a day 1375 
This Somnour, ever waiting on his pray. 
Rood for to somne a widwe, an old ribybe, 
Feynynge a cause, for he wolde brybe. 
And happed that he saugh bifore him ryde 
A gay ye man, under a forest-syde. 1380 
A bowe he bar, and arwes brighte and 

kene; 
He hadde up-on a courtepy of grene; 
An hat up-on his heed with frenges blake.- 
' Sir,' quod this Somnour, ' hayl ! and 
wel a-take ! ' 
* Wel-come,' quod he, ' and every good 
felawe! 1385 

Wher rydestow under this grene shawe?' 
Seyde this yeman, ' wiltow fer to day?' 
This Somnour him answerde, and seyde, 
* nay; 
Heer faste by,' quod he, ' is myn entente 
To ryden, for to reysen up a rente 1390 



That longeth to my lordes duetee. 

'Artow thanne a bailly?' 'Ye!' quod 
he. 
He dorste nat, for verray filthe and shame, 
Seye that he was a somnour, for the name. 
' Depardieux,' quod this yeman, ' dere 
brother, i3gc 

Thou art a bailly, and I am another. 
I am unknowen as in this contree; 
Of thyn aqueyntance I wolde praye thee, 
And eek of brotherhede, if that yow leste. 
I have gold and silver in my cheste; 1400 
If that thee happe to comen in our 

shyre, 
Al shal be thyn, right as thou wolt desyre.' 
' Grantmercy,' quod this Somnour, ' by 
my feith ! ' 
Everich in otheres hand his trouthe leith. 
For to be sworne bretheren til they 
deye. 1405 

In daliance they ryden forth hir weye. 
This Somnour, which that was as ful of 
Jangles, 
As ful of venim been thise wariangles, 
And ever enquering up-on every thing, 
'Brother,' quod he, 'where is now your 
dwelling, 14 10 

Another day if that I sholde yow seche? ' 
This yeman him answerde in softe 
speche, 
' Brother,' quod he, ' fer in the north con- 
tree, 
Wher, as I hope, som-tyme I shal thee 

see. 

Er we departe, I shal thee so wel 

wisse, 141 5 

That of myn hous ne shaltow never misse.' 

' Now, brother,' quod this Somnour, ' I 

yow preye, 

Teche me, whyl that we ryden by the 

weye, 
Sin that ye been a baillif as am I, 
Som subtiltee, and tel me feithfuUy 1420 
In myn offyce how I may most winne; 
And spareth nat for conscience ne sinne, 
But as my brother tel me, how do ye?' 
'Now, by my trouthe, brother dere,' 
seyde he, 
' As I shal tellen thee a feithful tale, 1425 
My wages been ful streite and ful smale. 
My lord is hard to me and daungerous, 
And myn offyce is ful laborous; 
And therfore by extorcions I live. 



[74 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1430-1514, 



For sothe, I take al that men wol me 
yive; 1430 

Algate, by sleyghte or by violence, 

Fro yeer to yeer I winne al my dispence. 

I can no bettre telle feithfully.' 

' Now, certes,' quod this Somnour, ' so 
fare I; 

I spare nat to taken, god it vvoot, 1435 

But-if it be to hevy or to hoot. 

What I my gete in conseil prively. 

No maner conscience of that have I; 

Nere myn extorcioun, I mighte nat liven, 

Ne of swiche lapes wol I nat be 
shriven. 1440 

Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon; 

1 shrewe thise shrifte-fadres everichoon. 

Wei be we met, by god and by seint lame ! 

But, leve brother, tel me than thy name,' 

Quod this Somnour; and in this mene- 
whyle, 1445 

This yeman gan a litel for to smyle. 
' Brother,' quod he, ' wiltovv that I thee 
telle? 

I am a feend, my dwelling is in helle. 

And here I ryde about my purchasing, 

To wite wher men wolde yeve me any 
thing. 1450 

My purchas is theffect of al my rente. 

Loke how thou rydest for the same en- 
tente, 

To winne good, thou rekkest never how; 

Right so fare I, for ryde wolde I now 

Un-to the worldes ende for a preye.' 1455 

* A,' quod this Somnour, ' benedicite, 

what sey ye? 
I wende ye were a yeman trewely. 
Ye han a mannes shap as wel as I; 
Han ye figure than determinat 
In helle, ther ye been in your estat? ' 1460 

* Nay, certeinly,' quod he, ' ther have 

we noon; 
But whan us lyketh, we can take us oon. 
Or elles make yow seme we ben shape 
Som-tyme lyk a man, or lyk an ape; 
Or lyk an angel can I ryde or go. 1465 
It is no wonder thing thogh it be so; 
A lousy logelour can deceyve thee, 
And pardee, yet can I more craft than he.' 

* Why,' quod the Somnour, ' ryde ye 

thanne or goon 1469 

In sondry shap, and nat alwey in oon?' 

* For we,' quod he, ' wol us swich formes 

make 



As most able is our preyes for to take.' 
' What maketh yow to han al this 

labour? ' 
' Ful many a cause, leve sir Somnour,' 
Seyde this feend, ' but alle thing hath 
tyme. _ _ 1475 

The day is short, and it is passed pryme, 
And yet ne wan I no-thing in this day. 
I wol entende to winnen, if I may. 
And nat entende our wittes to declare. 
For, brother myn, thy wit is al to bare. 1480 
To understonde, al-thogh I tolde hem thee. 
But, for thou axest why labouren we; 
For, som-tyme, we ben goddes instru- 
ments. 
And menes to don his comandements, 
Whan that him list, up-on his creatures, 
In divers art and in divers figures, i486 
With-outen him we have no might, cer- 

tayn. 
If that him list to stonden ther-agayn. 
And som-tyme, at our prayere, han we 

leve 
Only the body and nat the soule greve; 
Witnesse on lob, whom that we diden 
wo. 1 49 1 

And som-tyme han we might of bothe two, 
This is to seyn, of soule and body eke. 
And somtyme be we suffred for to seke 
Up-on a man, and doon his soule un- 
reste, ^ 1495 

And nat his body, and al is for the beste. 
Whan he withstandeth our temptacioun. 
It is a cause of his savacioun; 
Al-be-it that it was nat our entente 
He sholde be sauf, but that we wolde 
him hente. 1500 

And som-tyme be we servant un-to man. 
As to the erchebisshop Seint Dunstan, 
And to the apostles servant eek was I.' 
' Yet tel me,' quod the Somnour, ' feith- 
fully. 
Make ye yow newe bodies thus alvvay 1505 
Of elements? ' the feend answerde, 'nay; 
Som-tyme we feyne, and som-tyme we 

aryse 
With dede bodies in ful sondry wyse, 
And speke as renably and faire and wel 
As to the Phitonissa dide Samuel. 15 10 
And yet wol som men seye it was nat he; 
I do no fors of your divinitee. 
But o thing warne I thee, I wol nat lape. 
Thou wolt algates wite how we ben shape; 



1515-1583-] 



D. THE FRERES TALE. 



175 



Thou shalt her-afterward, my brother 
dere, 15 15 

Com ther thee nedeth nat of me to lere. 
For thou shalt by thyn owene experience 
Conne in a chyer rede of this sentence 
Bet than Virgyle, whyl he was on lyve, 
Or Dant also ; now lat us ryde blyve. 1 5 20 
For I wol holde companye with thee 
Til it be so, that thou forsake me.' 

* Nay,' quod this Somnour, ' that shal 

nat bityde; 
I am a yeman, knowen is ful wyde; 
My trouthe wol I holde as in this cas. 1525 
For though thou were the devel Sathanas, 
My trouthe wol I holde to my brother, 
As I am sworn, and ech of us til other 
For to be trewe brother in this cas; 
And Jjothe we goon abouten our purchas. 
Tak thou thy part, what that men wol 

thee yive, 1531 

And I shal myn ; thus may we bothe live. 
And if that any of us have more than 

other, 
Lat him be trewe, and parte it with his 

brother.' 

* I graunte,' quod the devel, ' by my 

fey.' 1535 

And with that word they ryden forth hir 

wey. 
And right at the entring of the tounes 

ende, 
To which this Somnour shoop him for to 

wende, 
They saugh a cart, that charged was with 

hey, 
Which that a carter droof forth in his 

wey. 1 540 

Deep was the wey, for which the carte 

stood. 
The carter smoot, and cryde, as he were 

wood, 
' Hayt, Brok ! hayt, Scot ! what spare ye 

for the stones? 
The feend,' quod he, *yow fecche body 

and bones, 
As ferforthly as ever were we foled ! 1545 
So muche wo as I have with yow tholed ! 
The devel have al, bothe hors and cart 

and hey ! ' 
This Somnour seyde, ' heer shal we 

have a pley ; ' 
And neer the feend he drough, as noght 

ne were, 



Ful prively, and rouned in his ere : 1 550 
' Herkne, my brother, herkne, by thy 

feith ; 
Herestow nat how that the carter seith? 
Hent it anon, for he hath yeve it thee, 
Bothe hey and cart, and eek hise caples 

three.' 
* Nay,' quod the devel, ' god wot, never 

a deel; 1555 

It is nat his entente, trust me weel. 
Axe him thy-self, if thou nat trowest me, 
Or elles stint a while, and thou shalt 

see.' 
This carter thakketh his hors upon the 

croupe, 
And they bigonne drawen and to-stoupe; 
' Heyt, now ! ' quod he, * ther lesu Crist 

yow blesse, 1561 

And al his handwerk, bothe more and 

lesse ! 
That was wel twight, myn owene lyard 

boy ! 
I pray god save thee and seynt Loy ! 
Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee ! ' 
' Lo ! brother,' quod the feend, * what 



tolde I thee? 



566 



Heer may ye see, myn owene dere brother, 
The carl spak 00 thing, but he thoghte 

another. 
Lat us go forth abouten our viage; 
Heer winne I no-thing up-on cariage.' 
Whan that they comen som-what out 

of toune, 1571 

This Somnour to his brother gan to 

roune, 
* Brother,' quod he, * heer woneth an old 

rebekke, 
That hadde almost as lief to lese hir 

nekke 
As for to yeve a peny of hir good. 1575 
I wol han twelf pens, though that she be 

wood. 
Or I wol sompne hir un-to our offyce; 
And yet, gocl woot, of hir knowe I no 

vyce. 
But for thou canst nat, as in this contree, 
Winne thy cost, tak heer ensample of 

me.' 1580 

This Somnour clappeth at the widwes 

gate. 
' Com out,' quod he, ' thou olde viritrate ! 
I trowe thou hast som frere or preestwith 

thee!' 



176 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1584-1657. 



' Who clappeth ? ' seyde this widwe, 

* benedicite! 
God save you, sire, what is your swete 

vviUe?' 1585 

' I have,' quod he, ' of somonce here a 

bille; 
Up deyne of cursing, loke that thou be 
To-morn bifore the erchedeknes knee 
Tenswere to the court of certeyn thinges.' 
'Now, lord,' quod she, * Crist lesu, king 

of kinges, 1590 

So wisly helpe me, as I ne may, 
I have been syk, and that ful many a day. 
I may nat go so fer,' quod she, * ne ryde. 
But I be deed, so priketh it in my syde. 
May I nat axe a libel, sir Somnour, 1595 
And answere there, by my procutour. 
To swich thing as men wol opposen me?' 

* Yis,' quod this Somnour, ' pay anon, 

lat se, 
Twelf pens to me, and I wol thee acquyte. 
I shall no profit han ther-by but lyte; 1600 
My maister hath the profit, and nat I. 
Com of, and lat me ryden hastily; 
Yif me twelf pens, 1 may no lenger tarie,' 

* Twelf pens,' quod she, 'now lady 

Seinte Marie 
So wisly help me out of care and sinne, 
This wyde world thogh that I sholde 

winne, 1606 

Ne have I nat twelf pens with-inne myn 

hold. 
Ye knowen wel that I am povre and old; 
Kythe your almesse on me povre wrecche.' 
' Nay than,' quod he, * the foule feend 

me fecche 1610 

If I thexcuse, though thou shul be spilt ! ' 

* Alas,' quod she, ' god woot, I have no 

gilt.' 

* Pay me,' quod he, ' or by the swete 

seinte Anne, 
As I wol here awey thy newe panne 
For dette, which that thou owest me of 

old, 1615 

Whan that thou madest thyn housbond 

cokewold, 
I payde at hoom for thy correccioun.' 
' Thou lixt,' quod she, * by my sava- 

cioun ! 
Ne was I never er now, widwe ne wyf, 
Somoned un-to your court in al my lyf ; 
Ne never I nas but of my body trewe ! 1 62 1 
Un-to the devel blak and rough of hewe 



Yeve I thy body and my panne also ! ' 

And whan the devel herde hir cursen so 
Up-on hir knees, he seyde in this man- 

ere, 1625 

' Now Mabely, myn owene moder dere. 
Is this your wil in ernest, that ye seye? ' 
'The devel,' quod she, 'so fecche him 

er he deye. 
And panne and al, but he wol him re- 

pente ! ' 
' Nay, olde stot, that is nat myn en- 
tente,' 1630 
Quod this Somnour, ' for to repente me. 
For any thing that I have had of thee; 
I wolde I hadde thy smok and every 

clooth ! ' 
' Now, brother,' quod the devel, ' be 

nat wrooth; 
Thy body and this panne ben myne by 

right. 1635 

Thou shalt with me to helle yet to-night. 
Where thou shalt knowen of our pri- 

vetee 
More than a maister of divinitee : ' 
And with that word this foule feend him 

hente; 1639 

Body and soule, he with the devel wente 
Wher-as that somnours han hir heri- 
tage. 
And god, that maked after his image 
Mankinde, save and gyde us alle and 

some; 
And leve this Somnour good man to 

bicome ! 
Lordinges, I coude han told yow, quod 

this Frere, 1 645 

Hadde I leyser for this Somnour here. 
After the text of Crist [and] Poul and 

lohn. 
And of our othere doctours many oon, 
Swiche peynes, that your hertes mighte 

agryse, 
Al-be-it so, no tonge may devyse, 1650 
Thogh that I mighte a thousand winter 

telle. 
The peyne of thilke cursed hous of 

helle. 
But, for to kepe us fro that cursed place, 
Waketh, and preyeth lesu for his grace 
So kepe us fro the temptour Sathanas. 
Herketh this word, beth war as in this 

cas; 1656 

The leoun sit in his await alway 



I65S-I708.] 



D. THE SOMNOUR'S PROLOGUE. 



177 



To slee the innocent, if that he may. 
Disposeth ay your hertes to vvithstonde 
The feend, that yow vvolde make thral 

and bonde. 1660 

He may nat tempten yow over your 

might; 



For Crist wol be your champion and 

knight. 
And prayeth that thise Somnours hem 

repente 
Of hir misdedes, er that the feend hem 

hente. 1664 



Here endeth the Freres tale. 



THE SOMNOUR'S PROLOGUE. 



The prologe of the Somnours Tale. 

This Somnour in his stiropes hye stood; 
Up-on this Frere his herte was so wood, 
That lyk an aspen leef he quook for yre. 
* Lordinges,' quod he, ' but o thing I 
desyre; 
I yow biseke that, of your curteisye, 
Sin ye han herd this false Frere lye, 1670 
As suffereth me I may my tale telle ! 
This Frere bosteth that he knoweth 

helle, 
And god it woot, that it is litel wonder; 
Freres and feendes been but lyte a-sonder. 
For pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd 
telle, 1675 

How that a frere ravisshed was to helle 
In spirit ones by a visioun; 
And as an angel ladde him up and doun. 
To shewen him the peynes that ther 

were. 
In al the place saugh he nat a frere; 1680 
Of other folk he saugh y-nowe in wo. 
Un-to this angel spak the frere tho : 
"Now, sir," quod he, "han freres 
swich a grace 
That noon of hem shal come to this 
place?" 
"Yis," quod this angel, "many a mil- 
lioun!" 1685 

And un-to Sathanas he ladde him doun. 

Here endeth the Proloze 



" And now hath Sathanas," seith he, "a 

tayl 
Brodder than of a carrik is the sayl. 
Hold up thy tayl, thou Sathanas ! " quod 

he, 

" Shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere 

see 1690 

Wher is the nest of freres in this place ! " 

And, er that half a furlong-wey of 

space. 
Right so as bees out swarmen from an 

hyve. 
Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve 
Twenty thousand freres in a route, 1695 
And thurgh-out helle swarmeden aboute; 
And comen agayn, as faste as they may 

gon. 
And in his ers they crepten everichon. 
He clapte his tayl agayn, and lay ful 

stille. 
This frere, whan he loked hadde his 
fille 1700 

Upon the torments of this sory place, 
His spirit god restored of his grace 
Un-to his body agayn, and he awook; 
But natheles, for fere yet he quook. 
So was the develes ers ay in his minde, 
That is his heritage of verray kinde. 1706 
God save yow alle, save this cursed 

Frere; 
My prologe wol I ende in this manere.' 

o/the So7?inours Tale. 



178 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1709-1773. 



THE SOMNOURS TALE. 



Here biginneth the Somonoiw his Tale. 

LoRDiNGES, ther is in Yorkshire, as I 

gesse, 1709 

A mersshy contree called Holdernesse, 
In which ther wente a limitour aboute, 
To preche, and eek to begge, it is no 

doute. 
And so bifel, that on a day this frere 
Had preched at a chirche in his manere, 
And specially, aboven every thing, 1715 
Excited he the peple in his preching. 
To trentals, and to yeve, for goddessake, 
Wher-with men mighten holy houses 

make, 
Ther as divyne service is honoured, 
Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, 1 720 
Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive. 
As to possessioners, that mowen live. 
Thanked be god, in wele and habun- 

daunce. 
'Trentals,' seyde he, * deliveren fro pen- 

aunce 1724 

Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, 
Ye, whan that they been hastily y-songe; 
Nat for to holde a preest loly and gay, 
He singeth nat but, o masse in a day; 
Delivereth out,' quod he, ' anon the 

soules; 
Ful hard it is with fleshhook or with 

oules 1730 

To been y-clawed, or to brenne or bake; 
Now spede yow hastily, for Cristes sake.' 
And whan this frere had seyd al his en- 
tente. 
With qui cwn patre forth his wey he 

wente. 
Whan folk in chirche had yeve him 

what hem leste, 1735 

He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he 

teste, 
With scrippe and tipped staf, y-tukked 

hye; 
In every hous he gan to poure and prye. 
And beggeth mele, and chese, or elles 

corn. 
His felawe hadde a staf tipped with 

horn, 1 740 



A peyre of tables al of yvory, 

And a poyntel polisshed fetisly. 

And wroot the names alwey, as he stood, 

Of alle folk that yaf him any good 

Ascaunces that he wolde for hem 

preye. 1745 

' Yeve us a busshel whete, malt, or reye, 
A goddes kechil, or a trip of chese, 
Or elles what yow list, we may nat 

chese; 
A goddes halfpeny or a masse-peny, 
Or yeve us of your brawn, if ye have 

eny; 1750 

A dagon of your blanket, leve dame, 
Our suster dere, lo ! here I write your 

name; 
Bacon or beef, or swich thing as ye finde. 
A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihinde, 
That was hir hostes man, and bar a 

sak, ^ 1755 

And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his 

bak. 
And whan that he was out at dore anon, 
He planed awey the names everichon 
That he biforn had writen in his tables; 
He served hem with nyfles and with 

fables. 1760 

* Nay, ther thou lixt, thou Somnour,' 

quod the F'rere. 
' Pees,' quod our Host, ' for Cristes 

moder dere; 
Tel forth thy tale and spare it nat at al.' 
So thryve I, quod this Somnour, so I 

shall.— 
So longe he wente hous by hous, til 

he 1765 

Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be 
Refresshed more than in an hundred 

placis. 
Sik lay the gode man, whos that the 

place is; 
Bedrede up-on a couche lowe he lay. 
^ Deus hic^ quod he, 'O Thomas, freend, 

good day,' 1 770 

Seyde this frere curteisly and softe. 
' Thomas,' quod he, ' god yelde yow ! ful 

ofte 
Have I up-on this bench faren ful weel. 



I774-I843-] 



D. THE SOMNOURS TALE. 



79 



Here have I eten many a inery meel'; 
And fro the bench he droof awey the 

cat, 1775 

And leyde adoun his potente and his 

hat, 
And eek his scrippe, and sette him softe 

adoun. 
His felawe was go walked in-to toun. 
Forth with his knave, into that hostelrye 
Wher-as he shoop him thilke night to 

lye. 1780 

* O dere maister,' quod this syke man, 

* Howhan he fare sith that March bigan? 
I saugh yow noght this fourtenight or 

more.' 

* God woot,' quod he, ' laboured have I 

ful sore; 
And specially, for thy savacioun 17S5 
Have I seyd many a precious orisoun 
And for our othere frendes, god hem 

blesse ! 
I have to-day been at your chirche at 

messe, 
And seyd a sermon after my simple wit, 
Nat al after the text of holy writ; 1790 
For it is hard to yow, as I suppose. 
And therfore wol I teche yow al the 

glose. 
Glosinge is a glorious thing, certeyn. 
For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn. 
Ther have I taught hem to be charita- 
ble, 1795 
And spende hir good ther it is resonahle, 
And ther I saugh our dame; a! wher is 
she?' 

* Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be,' 
Seyde this man, ' and she wol come anon.' 

' Ey, maister ! wel-come be ye, by seint 
lohn!' 1800 

Seyde this wyf, 'how fare ye hertely?' 
The frere aryseth up ful curteisly, 

And hir embraceth in his amies narwe. 

And kiste hir swete, and chirketh as a 
sparwe 

With his lippes : ' dame,' quod he, * right 
weel, 1805 

As he that is your servant every deel. 

Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and 

lyf, 

\ et saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf 
In al the chirche, god so save me ! ' 
'Ye, god amende defautes, sir,' quod 
she, 1810 



' Algates wel-come be ye, by my fey ! ' 
' Graunt mercy dame, this have 1 founde 

ahvey. 
But of your grete goodnesse, by your leve, 
I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow 

greve, 
I wol with Thomas speke a litel throwe, 
Thise curats been ful necligent and 

slowe 1816 

To grope tendrely a conscience. 
In shrift, in preching is my diligence. 
And studie in Petres wordes, and in 

Poules. 
I walke, and fisshe Cristen mennes 

soules, 1820 

To yelden lesu Crist his propre rente; 
To sprede his word is set al myn en- 
tente.' 
' Now, by your leve, o dere sir,' quod 

she, 
' Chydeth him weel, for seinte Trinitee. 
He is as angry as a pissemyre, 1825 

Though that he have al that he can 

desyre. 
Though I him wrye a-night and make 

him warm. 
And on hym leye my leg outher myn 

arm. 
He groneth lyk our boor, lyth in our sty. 
Other desport right noon of him have I; 
I may nat plese him in no maner 

cas.' 1831 

' O Thomas ! le voiis dy, Thomas ! 

Thomas ! 
This maketh the feend, this moste ben 

amended. 
Ire is a thing that hye god defended 
And ther-of wol I speke a word or 

two.' 1835 

' Now maister,' quod the wyf, ' er that 

I go, 
What wol ye dyne? I wol go ther- 

aboute.' 
' Now dame,' quod he, ' le vous dy 

sanz doute. 
Have I nat of a capon but the livere 
And of your softe breed nat but a 

shivere, 1840 

And after that a rosted pigges heed, 
(But that I nolde no beest for me were 

deed), 
Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffis- 

aunce. 



[8o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1844-1917. 



I am a man of litel sustenaunce. 1844 
My spirit hath his fostring in the Bible. 
The body is ay so redy and penyble 
To wake, that my stomak is destroyed. 
I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, 
Though I so freendly yow my conseil 

shewe; 
By god, I wolde nat telle it but a fewe.' 
'Now, sir,' quod she, 'but o word er 

I go; 1851 

My child is deed with-inne thise wykes 

two, 
Sone after that ye wente out of this 

toun.' 
' His deeth saugh I by revelacioun,' 
Seith this frere, * at hoom in our dor- 
tour. 1855 
I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour 
After his deeth, I saugh him born to 

blisse 
In myn avisioun, so god me wisse ! 
So dide our sexteyn and our fernierer. 
That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; 
They may now, god be thanked of his 

lone, 1861 

Maken hir lubilee and walke allone. 
And up 1 roos, and al our covent eke. 
With many a tere trikling on my cheke, 
Withouten noyse or clateringe of belles; 
Te deum was our song and no-thing 

elles, 1866 

Save that to Crist I seyde an orisoun, 
Thankinge him of his revelacioun. 
For sir and dame, trusteth me right weel, 
Our orisons been more effectueel, 1870 
And more we seen of Cristes secree 

thinges 
Than burel folk, al-though they weren 

kinges. 
We live in povert and in abstinence, 
And burel folk in richesse and despence 
Of mete and drinke, and in hir foul 

delyt. 1875 

We han this worldes lust al in despyt. 
Lazar and Dives liveden diversly, 
And diverse guerdon hadden they ther- 

by. 
Who-so wol preye, he moot faste and be 

clene. 
And fatte his soule and make his body 

lene. 1880 

We fare as seith thapostle; cloth and 

fode 



Suffysen us, though they be nat ful gode. 
The clennesse and the fastinge of us 

freres 
Maketh that Crist accepteth our preyeres. 
Lo, Moyses fourty dayes and fourty 

night 1885 

Fasted, er that the heighe god of might 
Spak with him in the mountain of Sinay, 
With empty wombe, fastinge many a 

day, 
Receyved he the lavve that was writen 
With goddess finger; and Elie, wel ye 

witen, 1890 

In mount Oreb, er he hadde any speche 
With hye god, that is our lyves leche. 
He fasted longe and was in contem- 

plaunce. 
Aaron, that hadde the temple in gov- 

ernaunce, 1894 

And eek the othere preestes everichon, 
In-to the temple whan they sholde gon 
To preye for the peple, and do servyse, 
They nolden drinken, in no maner wyse, 
No drinke, which that mighte hem 

dronke make, 
But there in abstinence preye and 

wake 1900 

Lest that they deyden; tak heed what I 

seye. 
But they be sobre that for the peple 

preye. 
War that I seye, — namore ! for it suffys- 

eth. 
Our lord lesu, as holy writ devyseth, 
Yaf us ensample of fastinge and prey- 
eres. 1905 
Therfor we mendinants, we sely freres, 
Been wedded to poverte and continence, 
To charitee, humblesse, and abstinence, 
To persecucion for rightwisnesse. 
To wepinge, misericord e, and clen 

nesse. 1910 

And therfor may ye see that our prey- 
eres — 
I speke of us, we mendinants, we 

freres — 
Ben to the hye god more acceptable 
Than youres, with your festes at the 

table. 
Fro Paradys, first, if I shal nat lye, 19 15 
Was man out chaced for his glotonye; 
And chaast was man in Paradys, cer- 

tcyn. 



I9I8-I988.] 



D. THE SOMNOURS TALE. 



But herki 
seyn. 



Thomas, what I shall 



I ne have no text of it, as I suppose, 
But I shall finde it in a maner glose, 1920 
That specially our svvete lord lesus 
Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus : 
"Blessed be they that povre in spirit 

been." 
And so forth al the gospel may ye seen, 
Wher it be lyker our professioun, 1925 
Or hirs that swimmen in possessioun. 
Fy on hir pompe and on hir glotonye ! 
And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. 

Me thinketh they ben lyk lovinian, 
Fat as a whale, and walkinge as a 

swan; 1930 

Al vinolent as hotel in the spence. 
Hir preyer is of ful gret reverence; 
Whan they for soules seye the psalm of 

Davit, 
Lo, "buf! " they seye "cor meum eruc- 

tavit!'' 
Who folweth Cristes gospel and his 

fore, 1935 

But we that humble been and chast and 

pore, 
Werkers of goddes word, not auditours ? 
Therfore, right as an hauk up, at a sours. 
Up springeth in-to their, right soprayeres 
Of charitable and chaste bisy freres 1940 
Maken hir sours to goddes eres two. 
Thomas ! Thomas ! so mote I ryde or 

And by that lord that clepid is seint 

Yve, 
Nere thou our brother, sholdestou nat 

thryve ! 
In our chapitre praye we day and 

night 1945 

To Crist, that he thee sende hele and 

might, 
Thy body for to welden hastily.' 

'God woot,' quod he, 'no-thing ther-of 

fele I ; 
As help me Crist, as I, in fewe yeres, 
Han spended, up-on dyvers maner 

freres, 1950 

Ful many a pound ; yet fare I never the 

bet. 
Certeyn, my good have I almost bistt. 
Farwel, my gold ! for it is al ago ! ' 
The frere answerde, ' O Thomas, 

dostow so ? 



What nedeth yow diverse freres 

seche ? ^955 

What nedeth him that hath a parfit 

leche 
To sechen othere leches in the toun ? 
Your inconstance is your confusioun. 
Holde ye than me, or elles our covent. 
To praye for yow ben insufficient? i960 
Thomas, that lape nis nat worth a myte; 
Your maladye is for we han to lyte. 
"A! yif that covent half a quarter 

otes ! " 
" A ! yif that covent four and twenty 

grotes ! " 
"A! yif that frere a peny, and lat him 

go ! " 1965 

Nay, nay, Thomas! it may no-thing be 

so. 
What is a ferthing worth parted in 

twelve ? 
Lo, ech thing that is oned in him-selve 
Is more strong than whan it is to-scat- 

ered. 
Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been y- 

flatered ; 1970 

Thou woldest han our labour al for 

noght. 
The hye god, that al this world hath 

wroght, 
Seith that the werkman worthy is his 

hyre. 
Thomas ! noght of your tresor I desyre 
As for my-self, but that al our covent 
To preye for yow is ay so diligent, 1976 
And for to builden Cristes owene chirche. 
Thomas ! if ye wol lernen for to wirche, 
Of buildinge up of chirches may ye 

finde 
If it be good, in Thomas lyf of 

Inde. 1980 

Ye lye heer, ful of anger and of yre, 
With which the devel set your herte 

a-fyre. 
And chyden heer this sely innocent, 
Your wyf, that is so meke and pacient. 
And therfor, Thomas, trowe me if thee 

leste, 1985 

Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy 

beste ; 
And ber this word awey now, by thy 

feith, 
Touchinge this thing, lo what the wyse 

seith : 



l82 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1989-2063. 



" With-in thyn hous ne be thou no 

leoun ; 
To thy subgits do noon oppres- 

sioun ; 1990 

Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to 

flee." 
And Thomas, yet eft-sones I charge thee, 
Be war from hir that in thy bosom 

slepeth ; 
War fro the serpent that so slyly crepeth 
Under the gras, and stingeth sub- 

tilly. _ 1995 

Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently, 
That twenty thousand men han lost hir 

lyves, 
For stryving with hir lemmans and hir 

wyves. 
Now sith ye han so holy and meke a 

wyf, 
What nedeth yow, Thomas, to maken 

stryf ? 2000 

Ther nis, y-wis, no serpent so cruel, 
Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so 

fel, 
As woman is, whan she hath caught an 

ire ; 
Vengeance is thanne al that they desyre. 
Ire is a sinne, oon of the grete of 

sevene, 2005 

Abhominable un-to the god of hevene ; 
And to him-self it is destruccion. 
This every levved viker or person 
Can seye, how Ire engendreth homicyde. 
Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. 2010 
I coude of Ire seye so muche sorwe, 
My tale sholde laste til to-morwe. 
And therfor preye I god bothe day and 

night, 
An irons man, god sende him litel might ! 
It is greet harm and, certes, gret pitee, 
To sette an irous man in heigh de- 
gree. 2016 
Whilom ther was an irous potestat, 
As seith Senek, that, duringe his estaat, 
Up-on a day out ridcn knightes two, 
And as fortune wolde that it were so, 2020 
That oon of hem cam hoom, that other 

noght. 
Anon the knight bifore the luge is broght. 
That seyde thus, ' thou hast thy felawe 

slayn, 
For which I deme thee to the deeth, cer- 

tayn.' 



And to another knight comanded he, 2025 

* Go lede him to the deeth, I charge thee.' 
And happed, as they wente by the weye 
Toward the place ther he sholde deye, 
The knight cam, which men wenden had 

be deed. 
Thanne thoughte they, it was the beste 

reed, 2030 

To lede hem bothe to the luge agayn. 
They seiden, ' lord, the knight ne hath 

nat slayn 
His felawe; here he standeth hool alyve.' 
' Ye shul be deed,' quod he, ' so moot I 

thryve ! 
That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and 

three ! ' 2035 

And to the firste knight right thus spak 

he, 
' I dampned thee, thou most algate be 

deed. 
And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, 
For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth.' 
And to the thridde knight right thus he 

seyth, 2040 

'Thou hast nat doon that I comanded 

thee.' 
And thus he dide don sleen hem alle 

three. 
Irous Cambyses was eek dronkelewe, 
And ay delyted him to been a shrewe. 
And so bifel, a lord of his meynee 2045 
That lovede vertuous moralitee, 
Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right 

thus : 

* A lord is lost, if he be vicious; 
And dronkenesse is eek a foul record 
Of any man, and namely in a lord. 2050 
Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere 
Awaiting on a lord, and he noot where. 
For goddes love, drink more attemprely; 
W'yn waketh man to lesen wrecchedly 
His minde, and eek his limes everichon.' 

*The revers shaltou se,' quod he, 

'anon; 2056 

And preve it, by thyn owene experience, 

That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich 

offence. 
Ther is no wyn bireveth me my might 
Of hand ne foot, ne of myn eyen sight ' — 
And, for despyt, he drank ful muchcl 
more 2061 

An hondred part than he had doon bifore; 
y\nd right anon, this irous cursed wrecche 



2064-2138.] 



D. THE SOMNOURS TALE. 



183 



Leet this knightes sone bifore him fecche, 
Comandinge him he sholde bifore him 

stonde. 2065 

And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde, 
And up the streng he pulled to his ere, 
And with an arwe he slow the child right 

there : 
*Now whether have I a siker hand or 

noon? ' 
Quod he, * is al my might and minde 

agoon ? 2070 

Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight?' 
What sholde I telle thanswere of the 

knight? 
His sone was slayn, ther is na-more to 

seye. 
Beth war ther for with lordes how ye 

pleye. 
Singeth Placebo, and I shal, if I can, 2075 
But if it be un-to a povre man. 
To a povre man men sholde hise vyces 

telle. 
But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to 

helle. 
Lo irous Cirus, thilke Percien, 
How he destroyed the river of Gysen, 2080 
For that an hors of his was dreynt ther- 

inne. 
Whan that he wente Babiloigne to winne. 
He made that the river was so smal, 
That wommen mighte wade it over al. 
Lo, whatseyde he, that so wel teche can? 
"Ne be no felawe to an irous man, 2086 
Ne with no wood man walke l)y the weye, 
Lest thee repente; " ther is na-more to 

seye. 
Now Thomas, leve brother, lef thyn ire; 
Thou shalt me fmde as lust as is a 

squire. 2090 

Hold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn 

herte; 
Thyn angre dooth thee al to sore smerte; 
But shewe to me al thy confessioun.' 
* Nay,' quod the syke man, ' by Seint 

Simoun ! 
I have be shriven this day at my curat; 
I have him told al hoolly myn estat; 2096 
Nedeth na-more to speke of it,' seith he, 
* But if me list of myn humilitee.' 

*Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make 

our cloistre,' 
Quod he, ' fur many a muscle and many 

an oistre, 2100 



Whan other men han ben ful wel at eyse, 
Hath been our fode, our cloistre for to 

reyse. 
And yet, god woot, unnethe the funde- 

ment 
Parfourned is, ne of our pavement 2104 
Nis nat a tyle yet with-inne our wones; 
By god, we owen fourty pound for stones ! 
Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed 

helle ! 
For elles moste we are bokes selle. 
And if ye lakke our predicacioun. 
Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. 
For who-so wolde us fro this world 

bireve, 21 1 1 

So god me save, Thomas, by your leve, 
He wolde bireve out of this world the 

Sonne. 
For who can teche and werchen as we 

conne? 
And that is nat of litel tyme,' quod he; 
' But sith that Elie was, or Elisee, 21 16 
Han freres been, that finde I of record, 
In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. 
Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee ! ' 
And doun anon he sette him on his 

knee. 2120 

This syke man wex wel ny wood for 

ire; 
He wolde that the frere had been on-fire 
W^ith his false dissimulacioun. 
' Swich thing as is in my possessioun,' 
Quod he, ' that may I yeven, and non 

other. 2125 

Ye sey me thus, how that I am your 

brother?' 
* Ye, certes,' quod the frere, ' trusteth 

weel ; 
I took our dame our lettre with our seel.' 
' Now wel,' quod he, * and som-what 

shal I yive 
Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, 2130 
And in thyn hand thou shalt it have 

anoon; 
On this condicioun, and other noon. 
That thou departe it so, my dere brother, 
That every frere have also muche as other. 
This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 
With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.' 2136 
' I swere it,' quod this frere, ' upon my 

feith ! ' 
And ther-with-al his hand in his he 

leith : 



[84 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2139-2212. ^ 



* Lo, heer my feith ! in me shal be no 

lak.' 
* Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by 

my bak,' 2140 

Seyde this man, 'and grope wel bihinde; 
Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde 
A thing that I have hid in privetee.' 
*A!' thoghte this frere, 'this shal go 

with me ! ' 
And doun his hand he launcheth to the 

cUfte, 2145 

In hope for to finde ther a yifte. 
And whan this syke man felte this frere 
Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, 
Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart. 
Ther nis no capul, drawingeinacart, 2150 
That mighte have lete a fart of swich a 

soun. 
*The frere up stirte as doth a wood 

leoun : 

* A ! false cherl,' quod he, * for goddes 

bones, 
This hastow for despyt doon, for the 

nones ! 
Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may ! ' 
His meynee, whiche that herden this 

affray, 2156 

Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the 

frere; 
And forth he gooth, with a ful angry 

chere. 
And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor. 
He looked as it were a wilde boor; 2160 
He grinte with his teeth, so was he 

wrooth. 
A sturdy pas doun to the court he gooth, 
Wher-as ther woned a man of greet 

honour, 
To whom that he was alwey confessour; 
This worthy man was lord of that village. 
This frere cam, as he were in a rage, 2166 
Wher-as this lord sat eting at his bord. 
Unnethes mighte the frere speke a word. 
Til atte laste he seyde : * god yow see ! ' 
This lord gan loke, and seide, * benedi- 

cite! 2170 

What, frere lohn, what maner world is 

this? 
I see wel that som thing ther is amis. 
Ye loken as the wode were ful of thevis. 
Sit doun anon, and tel me what your 

greef is. 
And it shal be amended, if I may.' 2175 



* I have,' quod he, * had a despyt this 

day, 
God yelde yow ! adoun in your village. 
That in this world is noon so povre a 

page. 

That he nolde have abhominacioun 2179 
Of that I have receyved in your toun. 
And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore, 
As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore, 
Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.' 

* Now, maister,' quod this lord, ' I yow 

biseke.' 

'No maister, sire,' quod he, 'but servi- 

tour, 2185 

Thogh I have had in scole swich honour. 

God lyketh nat that " Raby " men us 

calle, 
Neither in market ne in your large halle.' 
' No fors,' quod he, ' but tel me al 
your grief.' 

* Sire,' quod this frere, * an odious mes- 

chief 2190 

This day bitid is to myn ordre and me, 
And so per conseqiiens to ech degree 
Of holy chirche, god amende it sone ! ' 
' Sir,' quod the lord, ' ye woot what is 

to done. 
Distempre yow noght, ye be my con- 
fessour; 2195 
Ye been the salt of the erthe and the 

savour. 
For goddes love your pacience ye holde ; 
Tel me your grief:' and he anon him 

tolde, 

As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what. 

The lady of the hous ay stille sat, 2200 

Til she had herd al what the frere sayde : 

'Ey, goddes moder,' quod she, 'blisful 

mayde ! 
Is ther oght elles? telle me feithfully.' 
' Madame,' quod he, ' how thinketh 

yow her-by?' 
'How that me thinketh?' quod she; 

* so god me speede, 2205 

I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede. 
What shold I seye? god lat him never 

thee! 
His syke heed is ful of vanitee, 
I hold him in a maner frenesye.' 

' Madame,' quod he, ' by god I shal nat 

lye; 2210 

But I on other weyes may be wreke, 
I shal diffame him over-al ther I speke, 



2213-2288.] 



D. THE SOMNOURS TALE. 



18c; 



This false blasphemour, that charged 

me 
To parte that wol nat departed be, 2214 
To every man y-liche, with meschaunce ! ' 
The lord sat stille as he were in a 

traunce, 
And in his herte he rolled up and doun, 

* How hadde this cherl imaginacioun 
To shewe swich a prolileme to the frere? 
Never erst er now herde I of swich 

matere; 2220 

I trowe the devel putte it in his minde. 
In ars-metryke shal ther no man finde, 
Biforn this day, of swich a questioun. 
Who sholde make a demonstracioun, 
That every man sholde have y-liche his 

part 2225 

As of the soun or savour of a fart? 

nyce proude cherl, I shrewe his face ! 
*Lo, sires,' qucd the lord, with harde 

grace, 
' Who ever herde of swich a thing er 

now? 
To every man y-lyke? tel me how? 2230 
It is an inpossible, it may nat be ! 
Ey, nyce cherl, god lete him never thee ! 
The rumblinge of a fart, and every soun, 
Nis but of eir reverberacioun, 2234 

And ever it wasteth lyte and lyte awey. 
Ther is no man can demen, by my fey, 
If that it were departed equally. 
What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly 
Un-to my confessour to-day he spak ! 

1 holde him certeyn a demoniak ! 2240 
Now ete your mete, and lat the cherl go 

pleye, 
Lat him go honge himself, a devel weye ! ' 
Now stood the lordes squyer at the 

bord. 
That carf his mete, and herde, word by 

word, 
Of alle thinges of which I have yow 

sayd. 2245 

* My lord,' quod he, * be ye nat yvel 

apayd ; 
I coude telle, for a goune-clooth. 
To yow, sir frere, so ye be nat wrooth. 
How that this fart sholde even deled be 
Among your covent, if it lyked me.' 2250 
*Tel,' quod the lord, 'and thou shalt 

have anon 
A goune-cloth, by god and by Seint 

lohu 1 ' 



' My lord,' quod he, ' whan that the 

weder is fair, 
With-outen wind or perturbinge of air, 
Lat bringe a cartwheel here in-to this 

halle, 2255 

But loke that it have his spokes alle. 
Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly. 
And bring me than twelf freres, woot 

ye why? 
For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse. 
The confessour heer, for his worthinesse, 
Shal parfourne up the nombre of his 

covent. 2261 

Than shal they knele doun, by oon 

assent. 
And to every spokes ende, in this 

manere, 
Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere. 
Your noble confessour, ther god him 

save, 2265 

Shal holde his nose upright, under the 

nave. 
Than shal this cherl, with bely stif and 

toght 
As any tabour, hider been y-broght; 
And sette him on the wheel right of 

this cart, 
Upon the nave, and make him lete a 

fart. 2270 

And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf, 
By preve which that is demonstratif. 
That equally the soun of it wol wende, 
And eek the stink, un-to the spokes 

ende; 
Save that this worthy man, your con- 
fessour, 2275 
By-cause he is a man of greet honour, 
Shal have the firste fruit, as reson is; 
The noble usage of freres yet is this, 
The worthy men of him shul first be 

served; 2279 

And certeinly, he hath it weel deserved. 
He hath to-day taught us so muchel 

good 
With preching in the pulpit ther he 

stood, 
That I may vouch e-sauf, I sey for me. 
He hadde the firste smel of fartes three. 
And so wolde al his covent hardily; 2285 
He bereth him so faire and holily.' 
The lord, the lady, and ech man, save 

the frere, 
Seyde that lankin spak, in this matere. 



1 86 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2289-2294. 1-56. 



As wel as Euclide or [as] Ptholomee. 


He nis no fool, ne no demoniak. 


Touchinge this cher , they seyde, sub- 


And lankin hath y-wonne a newe 


tiltee 2290 


goune. — 


And heigh wit made him speken as he 


My tale is doon; we been almost at 


spak; 


toune. 2294 



Here endeth the Soninoiirs Tale. 

GROUP E. 
THE CLERK'S PROLOGUE. 



Here folweth the Prologe of the Clerkes 
Tale of Oxenford. 

♦ Sir clerk of Oxenford,' our hoste sayde, 
'Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a 

mayde. 

Were newe spoused, sitting at the bord; 

This day ne herde I of your tonge a word. 

I trowe ye studie aboute som sophyme, 5 

But Salomon seith, " every thing hath 
tyme." 
For goddes sake, as beth of bettre chere, 

It is no tyme for to studien here. 

Telle us som mery tale, by your fey; 

For what man that is entred in a pley, 10 

He nedes moot unto the pley assente. 

But precheth nat, as freres doon in Lente, 

To make us for our olde sinnes wepe, 

Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe. 
Telle us som mery thing of aven- 
tures; — 15 

Your termes, your colours, and your fig- 
ures, 

Kepe hem in stoor til so be ye endyte 

Heigh style, as whan that men to kinges 
wryte. 

Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, I yow 
preye, 

Thatwemayunderstonde whatyeseye.' 20 
This worthy clerk benignely answerde, 

* Hoste,' quod he, ' I am under your yerde; 
Ye han of us as now the governaunce. 
And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce, 
As fer as reson axeth, hardily. 25 
I wol yow telle a tale which that I 



Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk, 
As preved by his wordes and his werk. 
He is now deed and nayled in his cheste, 
I prey to god so yeve his soule reste ! 30 

Fraunceys Petrark, the laureat poete, 
Highte this clerk, whos rethoryke sweete 
Enlumined al Itaille of poetrye, 
As Linian dide of philosophye 
Or lawe, or other art particuler; 35 

But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen 

heer 
But as it were a twinkling of an ye, 
Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we 

dye. 
But forth to tellen of this worthy man, 
That taught me this tale, as I bigan, 40 
I seye that first with heigh style he en- 

dyteth, 
Er he the body of his tale wryteth, 
A proheme, in the which discryveth he 
Pemond, and of Saluces the contree, 
And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye, 45 
That been the boundes of West Lum- 

bardye, 
And of Mount Vesulus in special, 
Where as the Poo, out of a welle smal, 
Taketh his firste springing and his sours, 
That estward ay encresseth in his cours 50 
To Emelward, to Ferrare, and Venyse : 
The which a long thing were to devyse. 
And trewely, as to my lugement, 
Me thinketh it a thing impertinent, 
Save that he wol conveyen his matere : 55 
But this his tale, which that ye may 

here.' 



57-125 



.1 



E. THE CLERKEg TALE. 



187 



THE CLERKES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Tale of the Clerk of 
Oxenford. 

Ther is, at the west syde of Itaille, 
Doun at the rote of Vesulus the colde, 
A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille, 
Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst 
biholde, 60 

That founded were in tyme of fadres olde, 
And many another dehtable sighte, 
And Saluces this noble contree highte. 

A markis whylom lord was of that londe, 
As were his worthy eldres him bifore; 65 
And obeisant and redy to his honde 
Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and more. 
Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore, 
Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune, 
Bothe ofhislordes and of his commune. 70 

Therwith he was, to speke as of linage, 
The gentilleste y-born of Lumbardye, 
A fair persone, and strong, and yong of 

age. 
And ful of honour and of curteisye; 
Discreet y-nogh his contree for to gye, 75 
Save in somme thinges that he was to 

blame, 
And Walter was this yonge lordes name. 

I blame him thus, that he considereth 

noght 
In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde, 
But on his lust present was al his thoght, 80 
As for to hauke and hunte on every syde ; 
Wei ny alle othere cures leet he slyde, 
And eek he nolde, and that was worst of 

alle, 
Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle. 

Only that point his peple bar so sore, 85 
That flokmele on a day they to him wente. 
And oon of hem, that wysest was of lore. 
Or elles that the lord best wolde a5sente 
That he sholde telle him what his peple 

mente, 
Or elles coude he shewe wel swich mat- 

ere, 90 

He to the markis seyde as ye shul here. 



* O noble markis, your humanitee 
Assureth us and yeveth us hardinesse, 
As ofte as tyme is of necessitee 
That we to yow mowe telle our hevi- 

nesse; 95 

Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse. 
That we with pitous herte un-to yow 

pleyne. 
And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne. 

Al have I noght to done in this matere 
More than another man hath in this 

place, 100 

Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so dere, 
Han alwey shewed me favour and grace, 
I dar the better aske of yow a space 
Of audience, to shewen our requeste. 
And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow 

leste. 105 

For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow 
And al your werk and ever han doon, 

that we 
Ne coude nat us self devysen how 
We mighte liven in more felicitee. 
Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be, no 
That for to been a wedded man yow 

leste. 
Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes 

reste. 

Boweth your nekke under that bhsful yok 
Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse, 
Which that men clepeth spousaille or 

wedlok; 115 

And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes 

wyse, 
How that our dayes passe in sondry wyse; 
For though we slepe or wake, or rome, 

or ryde, 
Ay fleeth the tyme, it nil no man abyde. 

And though your grene youthe floure as 
yit, 120 

In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon, 
And deeth manaceth every age, and smit 
In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon : 
And al so certein as we knowe echoon 
That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle 



[88 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[126-196. 



Been of that day whan deeth slial on us 
falle. 126 

Accepteth than of us the trewe entente, 
That never yet rcfuseden your heste, 
And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente, 
Chese yow a wyf in short tyme, atte 
leste, 130 

Born of the gentilleste and of the meste 
Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme 
Honour to god and yow, as we can deme. 

Dehver us out of al this bisy drede, 
And tak a wyf, for hye goddcs sake; 135 
For if it so bifcUe, as god forbcde. 
That thurgh your deetli your linage sholde 

slake, 
And that a straunge successour sholde 

take 
Your heritage, o ! wo were us alyve ! 
Wherfor we pray you hastily to wyve.' 140 

Hir meke preyerc and hir pitous chere 

Made the markis hcrtc han pitee. 

* Ye W(j1,' (juod he, ' niyn owene peple 

dere, 
To that 1 never erst thoghte streyne me. 
I me reioysed of my libertee, 145 

That selde tyme is fcjunde in mariage; 
Ther 1 was free, I moot been in servage. 

Ikit nathelees I see your trewe entente, 
And truste upon your wit, and have don 

ay; 
Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente 150 
'l\) wedde me, as sone as ever I may. 
But ther-as ye han jirofred me to-day 
To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse 
That choys, and prey yow of that profre 

cesse. 

For god it woot, that children ofte been 
Unlyk her worthy eld res hem ])ifore; 156 
Bountee comth al of god, nat of the 

streen 
Of which they been engendred and 

y-bore; 
I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore 
My mariage and myn estaat and reste 160 
I him bitake; he may don as him leste. 

Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf. 
That charge up-on my bak 1 wol endure; 



But I yow preye, and charge up-on yout 

That what wyf that I take, ye me assure 

To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may 
dure, 166 

In word and werk, bothe here and every- 
where, 

As she an emperoures doghter were. 

And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that 

ye 
Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne 

stryve; 1 70 

For sith I shal forgoon my libertee 
At your requeste, as ever moot 1 thryve, 
Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve; 
And but ye wole assente in swich manere, 
I prey y(jw, speketh na-more of this 

matere.' 175 

With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten 
To al this thing, tlier seyde no wight nay; 
Bisekinge him of grace, er that they 

wenten. 
That he wolde graunten hem a certein 

day 
Of his spousaille, as sone as ever he 

may; 180 

For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde 
Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde. 

He graunted hem a day, swich as him 

leste. 
On wliich he wolde be wedded sikerly, 
And seyde, he dide al this at hir re- 
queste; 185 
And they, with humble entente, buxomly, 
Knelinge up-on her knees ful reverently 
Him thanken alle, and thus they han an 

ende 
Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they 
wende. 

And heer-up-on he to his officeres 190 
Comaundeth for the feste to purveye. 
And to his privee knightes and squyeres 
Swich charge yaf, as him liste on hem leye; 
And they to his comandemcnt obeye, 
And eeh of hem duth al his diligence 195 
To doon un-to the feste reverence. 

Explicit prima pars. 



I97-275-] 



E. THE CLERK ES TALE. 



189 



Incipit sccunda pars. 

Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable 
Ther-as this mark is shoop his niariage, 
Ther stood a throp, of site delitable, 
In which that povre folk of that village 
Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage, 201 
And of hir labour took hir sustenance 
After that the erthe yaf hem habundance. 

Amonges thise povre folk ther dvvelte a 

man 
Which that was holden povrest of hem 

alle; 205 

But hye god som tyme senden can 
His grace in-to a litel oxes stalle : 
lanicula men of that throp him calle. 
A doghter hadde he, fair y-nogh to 

sighte, 209 

And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte. 

But for to speke of vertuous beautee, 
Than was she oon the faireste under 

Sonne; 
For povreliche y-fostred up was she, 
No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte 

y-ronne; 214 

Wei ofter of the welle than of the tonne 
She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese. 
She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese. 

But thogh this mayde tendre were of age, 

Yet in the brest of hir virginitee 

Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage ; 

And in greet reverence and charitee 221 

Hir olde povre fader fostred she; 

A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte. 

She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte. 

And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde 
bringe 225 

Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, 
The whiche she shredde and seeth for 

hir livinge, 
And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing 

softe ; 
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte 
With everich obeisaunce and diligence 
That child may doon to fadres reverence. 

Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature, 232 
Ful ofte sythe this niarkis sette his ye 
As he on hunting rood paraventure; 



And whan it fil that he mighte hir 
espye, 235 

He noght with wantoun loking of folye 
His yen caste on hir, but in sad wyse 
Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse, 

Commending in his herte hir womman- 

hede, 
And eek hir vertu, passing any wight 240 
Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede. 
For thogh the peple have no greet insight 
In vertu, he considered ful right 
Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde 
Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde 

sholde. 245 

The day of wedding cam, but no wight 

can 
Telle what womman that it sholde be; 
For which merveille wondred many a 

man. 
And seyden, whan they were in privetee, 
' Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee ? 250 
Wol he nat wedde? alias, alias the whyle ! 
Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle? ' 

But natheles this markis hath don make 
Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure, 
Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake, 255 
And of hir clothing took he the mesure 
By a mayde, lyk to hir stature. 
And eek of othere ornamentes alle 
That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle. 

The tyme of undern of the same day 260 
Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be; 
And al the paleys put was in array, 
Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his de- 
gree; 
Houses of office stuffed with plentee 264 
Ther maystow seen of deyntevous vitaille, 
That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille, 

This royal markis, richely arrayed, 
Lordes and ladyes in his companye. 
The whiche unto the feste were y-prayed, 
And of his retenue the bachelrye, 270 
With many a soun of sondry melodye, 
Un-to the village, of the which I tolde, 
In this array the righte wey han holde. 

Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent. 
That for hir shapen was al this array, 275 



190 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[27^352. 



To fecchen water at a welle is went, 
And Cometh hoom as sone as ever she 

may. 
For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke 

day 
The markis sholde wedde, and, if she 

mighte. 
She wolde fayn han seyn som of that 

sighte. 280 

She thoghte, * I wol with othere maydens 

stonde. 
That been my felawes, in our dore, and 

see 
The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde 
To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be, 
The labour which that longeth un-to me; 
And then I may at leyser hir biholde, 286 
If she this wey un-to the castel holde.' 

And as she wolde over hir threshfold 

goon, 
The markis cam and gan hir for to calle; 
And she sette doun hir water-pot anoon 
Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxesstalle, 291 
And doun up-on hir knees she gan to 

falle, 
And with sad contenance kneleth stille 
Til she had herd what was the lordes 

wille. 

This thoghtful markis spak un-to this 
mayde 295 

Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere, 
* Wher is your fader, Grisildis ?' he sayde. 
And she with reverence, in humble chere, 
Answerde, ' lord, he is al redy here.' 
And in she gooth with-outen lenger lette, 
And to the markis she her fader fette. 301 

He by the hond than took this olde man. 
And seyde thus, whan he him hadde 

asyde, 
' lanicula, I neither may ne can 304 

Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde. 
If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde, 
Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende, 
As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende. 

Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn. 
And art my feithful lige man y-bore; 310 
And al that lyketh me, I dar wel seyn 
It lyketh thee, and specially therfore 



Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore, 
If that thou wolt un-to that purpos drawc-, 
To take me as for thy sone-in-lavve ? ' 315 

This sodeyn cas this man astoned so. 
That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking 
He stood; unnethes seyde he wordes mo, 
But only thus: 'lord,' quod he, 'my will- 
ing 
Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking 320 
I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere; 
Right as yow lust governeth this matere.' 

* Yet wol I,' quod this markis softely, 
'That in thy chambre I and thou and she 
Have a collacion, and wostow why ? 325 
For I wol axe if it hir wille be 
To be my wyf, and reule hir after me; 
And al this shal be doon in thy presence, 
I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.' 

And in the chambre whyl they were 
aboute 330 

Hir tretis, which as ye shal after here. 
The peple cam un-to the hous with- 

oute. 
And wondred hem in how honest manere 
And tentiily she kepte hir fader dere. 
But outerly Grisildis wondre mighte, 335 
For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte. 

No wonder is thogh that she were astoned 
To seen so greet a gest come in that 

place; 
She never was to swiche gestes woned, 339 
For which she loked with ful pale face. 
But shortly forth this tale for to chace, 
Thise am the wordes that the markis 

sayde 
To this benigne verray feithful mayde. 

' Grisilde,' he seyde, * ye shul wel under- 

stonde 
It lyketh to your fader and to me 345 
That I yow wedde, and eek it may so 

stonde, 
As I suppose, ye wol that it so be. 
But thise demandes axe I first,' quod he, 
' That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse, 
Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse ? 350 

I seye this, be ye redy with good herte 
To al my lust, and that I frely may, 



353-422.] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



191 



As me best thinketh, do yow laughe or 

smerte, 
And never ye to grucche it, night ne 

day ? 
And eek whan I sey *'ye," ne sey nat 

"nay," 355 

Neither by word ne frowning contenance; 
Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.' 

Wondring upon this word, quaking for 

drede, 
She seyde, 'lord, undigne and unworthy 
Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede ; 
But as ye wolyour-self, right so wol I. 361 
And heer I swere that never willingly 
In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye. 
For to be deed, though me were looth to 

deye.' 

' This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn ! ' quod 

he. 365 

And forth he gooth with a ful sobre 

chere 
Out at the dore, and after that cam she. 
And to the peple he seyde in thismanere, 
* This is my wyf,' quod he, ' that standeth 

here. 
Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye, 
Who-so me loveth; ther is na-more to 

seye.' 371 

And for that no-thing of hir olde gere 
She sholde bringe in-to his hous, he bad 
That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right 

there; 
Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad 
To handle hir clothes wher-in she was 

clad. 376 

But natheles this mayde bright of hewe 
Fro foot to heed they clothed han al 

newe. 

Hir heres han they kembd, that lay un- 

tressed 
Ful rudely, and with hir fingres smale 380 
A corone on hir heed they han y-dressed. 
And sette hir ful of nowches grete and 

smale ; 
Of hir array what sholde I make a tale ? 
Unnethe the peple hir knew for hir fair- 

nesse, 
Whan she translated was in swich rich- 

esse. 385 



This markis hath hirspoused with a ring 
Broght for the same cause, and than hir 

sette 
Up-on an hors, snow-whyt and wel 

ambling, 
And to his paleys, er he lenger lette, 
With loyful peple that hir ladde and 

mette, 390 

Conveyed hir, and thus the day they 

spende 
In revel, til the sonne gan descende. 

And shortly forth this tale for to chace, 
I seye that to this newe markisesse 
God hath swich favour sent hir of his 
grace, 395 

That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse 
That she was born and fed in rudenesse, 
As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle, 
But norished in an emperoures halle. 

To every wight she woxen is so dere 400 
And worshipful, that folk ther she was 

bore 
And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by 

yere, 
Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han 

swore 
That to lanicle, of which I spak bifore, 
She doghter nas, for, as by coniecture, 
Hem thoughte she was another creature. 

For thogh that ever vertuous was she, 
She was encressed in swich excellence 
Of thewes gode, y-set in heigh bountee, 
And so discreet and fair of eloquence. 
So benigne and so digne of reverence, 
And coude so the peples herte embrace, 
That ech hir lovede that loked on hir 
face. 

Noght only of Saluces in the toun 
Publiced was the bountee of hir name, 
But eek bisyde in many a regioun, 416 
If oon seyde wel, another seyde the 

same; 
So spradde of hir heigh bountee the fame, 
That men and wommen, as wel yonge as 

olde, 
Gon to Saluce, upon hir to biholde. 420 

Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally, 
Wedded with fortunat honestetee, 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[423-490. 



In goddes pees liveth ful esily 

At hoom, and outward grace y-nogh had 

he; 424 

And for he saugh that under low degree 
Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde 
A prudent man, and that is seyn ful 

selde. 

Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit 
Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse, 
But eek, whan that the cas requyred it, 
The commune profit coude she redresse. 
Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevinesse 
In al that lond, that she ne coude apese, 
And wysly bringe hem alle in reste and 
ese. 

Though that hir housbonde absent were 
anoon, 435 

If gentil men, or othere of hir contree 
Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem 

atoon; 
So wyse and rype wordes hadde she, 
And lugements of so greet equitee, 
That she from heven sent was as men 
wende, 440 

Peple to save and every wrong tamende. 

Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild 
Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore, 
Al had hir lever have born a knave 

child. 
Glad was this markis and the folk ther- 

fore ; 445 

For though a mayde child come al bifore. 
She may unto a knave child atteyne 
By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne. 
Explicit secimda pars. 

Incipii tercia pars. 

Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo. 

Whan that this child had souked but a 

throwe, 450 

This markis in his herte longeth so 
To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to 

knowe, 
That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe 
This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye, 
Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for 

taffraye. 455 

He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, 



And fond hir ever good; what neded it 
Hir for to tempte and alwey more and 

more ? 
Though som men preise it for a subtil 

wit, 
But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit 460 
Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede, 
And putten her in anguish and in drede. 

For which this markis wroghte in this 
manere; 

He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay, 

With Sterne face and with ful trouble 
chere, 465 

And seyde thus, ' Grisild,' quod he, ' that 
day 

That I yow took out of your povre array, 

And putte yow in estaat of heigh no- 
blesse, 

Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse. 

I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, 470 
In which that I have put yow, as I 

trowe, 
Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be 
That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe 
For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe. 
Tak hede of every word that I yow 

seye, 475 

Ther is no wight that hereth it but w-e 

tweye. 

Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam 

here 
In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago, 
And though to me that ye be lief and 

dere, 
Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so; 480 
They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and 

wo 
For to be subgets and ben in servage 
To thee, that born art of a smal village. 

And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore, 
Thise wordes han they spoken doute- 

lees; 485 

But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, 
To live my lyf with hem in reste and 

pees; 
I may nat in this caas be recchelees. 
I moot don with thy doghter for the 

beste, 489 

Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste 



I 



491-556] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



193 



And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to 

me; 
But nathelees with-oute your witing 
I wol nat doon, but this wol I,' quod he, 
'That ye to me assente as in this thing. 
Shewe now your pacience in your werk- 

ing 495 

That ye me highte and swore in your 

village 
I That day that maked was our mariage.' 

j Whan she had herd al this, she noght 

ameved 
Neither in word, or chere, or counte- 

naunce; 
For, as it semed, she was nat agreved : 
She seyde, 'lord, al lyth in your ple- 

saunce, cqi 

My child and I with hertly obeisaunce 
Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or 

spille 
Your owene thing; werketh after your 

wille. 

Ther may no-thing, god so my soule 
save, ^05 

Lyken to yow that may displese me; 

Ne I desyre no-thing for to have, 

Ne drede for to lese, save only ye; 

This wil is in myn herte and ay shal be. 

No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this 
deface, cio 

Ne chaunge my corage to another place.' 

Glad was this markis of hir answering. 
But yet he feyned as he were nat so; 
Al drery was his chere and his loking 
Whan that he sholde out of the chambre 
go. ^i^ 

Sone after this, a furlong wey or two. 
He prively hath told al his entente 
Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente. 

A maner sergeant was this privee man, 
The which that feithful ofte he founden 

hadde 1-20 

In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel 

can 
Don execucioun on thinges badde. 
The lord knew wel that he him loved 

and dradde; 
And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes 

wille 



In-to the chambre he stalked him ful 



stille. 



525 



' Madame,' he seyde, * ye mote foryeve it 

me, 
Thogh I do thing to which I am con- 

streyned; 
Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye 
That lordes hestes mowe nat been 

y-feyned; 
They mowe wel been biwailled or com- 

pleyned, 530 

But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye, 
And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye. 

This child I am comanded for to take ' — 
And spak na-more, but out the child he 

hente 
Despitously, and gan a chere make 535 
As though he wolde han slayn it er he 

wente. 
Grisildis mot al suffren and consente; 
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and 

stille, 
And leet this cruel sergeant doon his 

wille. 

Suspecious was the dififame of this 
man, 540 

Suspect his face, suspect his word also; 

Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan. 

Alias ! hir doghter that she^lovede so 

She wende he wolde han sfawen it right 
tho. ^44 

But natheles she neither weep ne syked 

Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. 

But atte laste speken she bigan, 
And mekely she to the sergeant preyde, 
So as he was a worthy gentil man, 
That she moste kisse hir child er that it 

deyde; 550 

And in her barm this litel child she 

leyde 
With ful sad face, and gan the child to 

kisse 
And lulled it, and after gan it blisse. 

And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys, 
'Far weel, my child; I shall thee never 

see; 555 

But, sith I thee have marked with the 

croys, 



194 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[557-624. 



Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be, 
Tliat for us deyde ui)-oii a croys of tree. 
'I'hy soule, litel child, I him bitakc, 
For tliis night shaltow dyen for my 
sake.' 560 

1 trowe tliat to a norice in this cas 
It had ben iiard tliis revvthe for to se; 
Wei mighte a mooder than ban cryed 

' alias ! ' 
liut nathelees so sad stedfast was she, 
'i'hat she endured all adversitee, 565 

And to the sergeant meekly she sayde, 
' Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde. 

Gotli now,' quod she, * and dooth my 

lordes heste, 
But o tiling wol I preye yow of your 

grace. 
That, but my lord forbad yow, atte 

leste 570 

Burieth this litel body in som place 
That bestes ne no briddes it t<j-race.' 
But he no word wol to that puipos seye, 
But took the child and wente upon his 

weyc. 

This sergeant cam un-to his lord agcyn. 
And of (hisihhs wordes and hirchere 576 
He tolde him point for point, in short 

and playn, 
And him jjresenteth with his doghter 

dere. 
Somwhat this lord hath revvthe in his 

manere; 
lUit nathelees his purpos hecld he stille, 
As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir 

wille; 581 

And bad his sergeant that he prively 
Sholde this child ful softe winde and 

wrappe 
With alle circumstances tendrely. 
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; 
But, up-on peyne his heed of for to 

swapi)e, 586 

That no njan sholde knowe of his entente, 
Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he 

wente; 

But at Boloigne to his suster dere, 
That thilke tymc of Banik was count- 
esse, 590 



He sholde it take, and shewe hir this 

matere, 
Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse 
This child to fostre in alle gentilesse; 
And whos chilli that it was he bad hir 

hyde 
From every wight, for oght that may 

bityde. 595 

The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this 

thing; 
But to this markis now retourne we; 
I'or now goth he ful faste imagining 
If by his wyves chere he mighte see. 
Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600 
Were chaunged; but he never hir coude 

fmde 
But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde. 

As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse, 
And eek in love as she was wont to be, 
Was she to him in every maner wyse; 
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak 

she. 606 

Non accident f(jr noon adversitee 
Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter 

name 
Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game. 

J'lxplicit tercir pars. Scqtdtiir pars 
quarta. 

In this estaat ther passed been foure 

yeer 610 

Er she with childe was; but, as god 

wolde, 
A knave child she bar by this Walter, 
Ful gracious and fair for to biholde. 
And whan that folk it to his fader t(jlde, 
Nat only he, but al his conlree, merie C15 
Was for this chilti, and god they thanke 
and herie. 

Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the 

brest 
Dejiarted of his norice, on a day 
This markis caughte yet aiKjther lest 619 
To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may. 
O needles was she tempted in assay! 
But wedded men ne knowe no mesure, 
Whan that they fmde a pacient creature. 



* Wyf,' quod this markis, 
er this. 



ye han herd 



I 



625-688.] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



[95 



My pcple sikly berth our mariage 625 
And namely, sith my sone y-boren is, 
Now is it worse than ever in al our 

age. 
The murmur sleeth myn herte and my 

corage; 
For to myne eres comth the voys so 

smerte. 
That it wel ny destroyed hath myn 

herte. C30 

Now sey they thus, *' whan Walter is 

agoon, 
Then shal the blood of lanicle succede 
And been our lord, for other have we 

noon;' 
Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of 

drede. 
Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken 

hede; 635 

For certeinly I drede swich sentence, 
Though they nat pleyn speke in myn 

audience. 

I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte; 
Wherfor I am (lisposed outerly, 
As I his suster served by nighte, 640 

Right so thenkc I to serve him piively; 
This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly 
Out of your-self for no wo sholde out- 

raye; 
Beth pacient, and ther-of I yow preye.' 

*I have,' quod she, * seyd thus, and ever 

shal, 645 

I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn. 
But as yow list; noght greveth me at al, 
Thogh that my doghter and my sone be 

slayn, 
At your comandement, this is to sayn. 
I have noght had no part of children 

tweyne 650 

But first siknesse, and after wo and 

peyne. 

Ye been our lord, doth with your owene 

thing 
Right as yow list; axeth no reed at 

me. 
For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing. 
Whan I first cam to yow, right so,' quod 

she, 655 

'Left 1 my wil and al my libertee, 



And took your clothing ; wherfor I 

yow preye, 
Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust 

obeye. 

And certes, if I hadde prescience 

Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me 

tolde, 660 

I wolde it doon with-outen necligence; 
But now I woot your lust and what ye 

wolde, 
Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I 

holde; 
For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow 

ese, 664 

Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. 

Deth may noght make no comparisoun 

Un-to your love : ' and, whan this markis 
sey 

The Constance of his wyf, he caste 
adoun 

His yen two, and wondreth that she 
may 

Tn pacience suffre al this array. 670 

And forth he gooth with drcry conte- 
naunce. 

But to his herte it was ful greet ples- 
aunce. 

This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse 
That he hir doghter caughte, right so he, 
Or worse, if men worse can devyse, 675 
Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of 

bcautee. 
And ever in oon so pacient was she, 
That she no chere made of hevinesse, 
But kiste hir sone, and after gan it 

Ijlesse ; 

Save this; she preyed him that, if he 
mighte, 680 

Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave, 

His tendre limes, delicat to sighte. 

Fro foulcs and fro besces ibr to save. 

But she non answer oi him might have. 

He wente his wey, as him no-thing ne 
roghte; 685 

But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte. 

This markis wondreth ever lenger the 

more 
Up-on hir pacience, and if tliat he 



iq6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[689-761. 



Ne hadde soothly knowen ther-bifore, 
That parfitly hir children lovede she, 690 
He wolde have wend that of som sub- 

tiltee, 
And of malice or for cruel corage, 
That she had suffred this with sad 

visage. 

But wel he knew that next him-self, 

certayn, 
She loved hir children best in every 

wyse. 695 

But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn, 
If thise assayes mighte nat suffyse? 
What coude a sturdy housbond more 

devyse 
To preve hir wyfhod and hir stedfast- 

nesse, 699 

And he continuing ever in sturdinesse? 

But ther ben folk of swich condicioun, 

That, whan they have a certein purpos 
take, 

They can nat stinte of hir entencioun. 

But, right as they were bounden to a 
stake. 

They wol nat of that firste purpos slake. 

Right so this markis fulliche hath pur- 
posed 706 

To tempte his wyf, as he was first dis- 
posed. 

He waiteth, if by word or contenance 
That she to him was changed of corage; 
But never coude he finde variance; 710 
She was ay oon in herte and in visage; 
And ay the forther that she was in age. 
The more trewe, if that it were possible, 
She was to him in love, and more 
penible. 

For which it semed thus, that of hem 
two 715 

Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste. 
The same lust was hir plesance also. 
And, god be thanked, al fil for the beste. 
She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste 
A wyf, as of hir-self, no-thing ne sholde 
Wille in effect, but as hir housbond 
wolde. 721 

The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde 
spradde, 



That of a cruel herte he wikkedly. 
For he a povre womman wedded hadde, 
Hath mordred bothe his children prively. 
Swich murmur was among hem comunly. 
No wonder is, for to the peples ere 727 
Ther cam no word but that they mordred 
were. 

For which, wher-as his peple ther-bifore 
Had loved him wel, the sclaundre of his 

diffame 730 

Made hem that they him hatede ther- 

fore; 
To been a mordrer is an hateful name. 
But natheles, for ernest ne for game 
He of his cruel purpos nolde stente; 734 
To tempte his wyf was set al his entente. 

Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of 

age. 
He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse 
Enformed of his wil, sente his message, 
Comaunding hem swiche buUes to devyse 
As to his cruel purpos may suffyse, 740 
How that the pope, as for his peples 

reste. 
Bad him to wedde another, if him leste. 

I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete 
The popes bulles, making mencioun 
That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete, 
As by the popes dispensacioun, 746 

To stinte rancour and dissencioun 
Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde 

the buUe, 
The which they han publiced atte fuUe. 

The rude peple, as it no wonder is, 750 
Wenden ful wel that it had been right 

so; 
But whan thise tydinges cam to Gri- 

sildis, 
I deme that hir herte was ful wo. 
But she, y-lyke sad for evermo. 
Disposed was, this humble creature, 755 
Thadversitee of fortune al tendure. 

Abyding ever his lust and his plesaunce. 
To whom that she was yeven, herte and 

al, 
As to hir verray worldly sufifisaunce ; 
But shortly if this storie I tellen shal, 760 
This markis writen hath in special 



762-835.] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



[97 



A lettre in which hesheweth his entente, 
And secrely he to Boloigne it sente. 

To the erl of Panik, which that hadde 

tho 
Wedded his suster, preyde he specially 
To bringen hoom agayn his children 

two 766 

In honurable estaat al openly. 
But o thing he him preyede outerly, 
That he to no wight, though men vvolde 

enquere, 
Sholde nat telle, whos children that 

they were, 770 

But seye, the mayden sholde y-wedded 

be 
Un-to the markis of Saluce anon. 
And as this erl was preyed, so dide he; 
For at day set he on his wey is goon 774 
Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon, 
In riche array, this mayden for to gyde; 
Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde. 

Arrayed was toward hir mariage 

This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere; 

Hir brother, which that seven yeer was 

of age, 780 

Arrayed eek ful fresh in his manere. 
And thus in greet noblesse and with 

glad chere. 
Toward Saluces shaping hir lourney. 
Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey. 

Explicit quarta pars. Sequitur quinta 
pars. 

Among al this, after his wikke usage, 785 
This markis, yet his wyf to tempte more 
To the uttereste preve of hir corage, 
Fully to han experience and lore 
If that she were as stedfast as bifore, 
He on a day in open audience 790 

Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence : 

* Certes, Grisilde, I hadde y-nough ple- 

saunce 
To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse, 
As for your trouthe and for your obei- 

saunce. 
Nought for your linage ne for your rich- 

esse ; 795 

But now knowe I in verray soothfastnesse 



That in gret lordshipe, if I wel avyse, 
Ther is gret servitute in sondry wyse. 

I may nat don as every plowman may; 
My peple me constreyneth for to take 800 
Another wyf, and cryen day by day; 
And eek the pope, rancour for to slake, 
Consenteth it, that dar I undertake; 
And treweliche thus muche I wol yow 

seye, 
My newe wyf is coming by the weye. 805 

Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir 

place. 
And thilke dower that ye broghten me 
Tak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace; 
Retourneth to your fadres hous,' quod he; 
' No man may alwey han prosperitee; 810 
With evene herte I rede yow tendure 
The strook of fortune or of aventure.' 

And she answerde agayn in pacience, 
' My lord,' quod she, ' I woot, and wiste 

alway 
How that bitwixen your magnificence 815 
And my poverte no wight can ne may 
Maken comparison; it is no nay. 
I ne heeld me never digne in no manere 
To be your wyf, no, ne your chamberere. 

And in this hous, ther ye me lady 
made — 820 

The heighe god take I for my witnesse, 
And also wisly he my soule glade — 
I never heeld me lady ne maistresse. 
But humble servant to your worthinesse. 
And ever shal, whyl that my lyf may 
dure, 825 

Aboven every worldly creature. 

That ye so longe of your benignitee 
Han holden me in honour and nobleye, 
Wher-as I was noght worthy for to be, 
That thonke I god and yow, to whom I 

preye 830 

Foryelde it yow; there is na-more to 

seye. 
Un-to my fader gladly wol I wende, 
And with him dwelle un-to my lyves 

ende. 

Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal. 
Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede 835 



r98 



TirK CAN'rEKlJUJ<Y TALES. 



[836-908. 



A widwc clene, in body, hcrte, and al. 
For sith I yaf to y(jw my maydcnhcdc, 
And am your trewc wyf, it is no drcdc, 
God hhdde svvichi a lordcs wyf to take 
Anotlicr man to housljonde (jr to 
mai<e. 840 

Anrl of your ncwe wyf, god of his grace 
So grauntc yow wele and prosperitee : 
For I wol gladly ycldcn hir my place, 
In which that I was blisful wont to be, 
For sith it lyketh yow, my lord,' rjuod 

she, 845 

'That whylom wcren al myn hcrtes reste, 
'ihat I shal goon, I wol gon whan yow 

Icste. 

liUt ther-as ye me profre swich dowaire 
As I first broghte, it is wel in my minde 
It were my wrecched clothes, no-thing 

faire, X50 

'i'he which tfj me were hard now f(jr t(j 

(inde. 
O gofle gofl ! how gentil and how kindc 
Ye semed by ytjur speche ancl your visage 
The day that maked was our mariage ! 

liut sooth is seyd, algatc I hnde it 
trewe — 855 

F(jr in effect it preved is on me — 
Ivove is noght old as whan that it is ncwe. 
liut certes, lord, for noon adversitee, 
To dyen in the cas, it shal nat be • 
That ever in wcjrd or werk 1 shal re- 
pcnte 860 

'J'hat 1 yow yaf myn herte in hool en- 
tente. 

My lorrl, ye woot that, in my fadrcs place, 
Ye dede me strep*,- out oi my p(jvre werie, 
And riehely me cladden, of ytjur grace. 
I'o yow broghte 1 noghte elles, out of 

drede, 865 

l>ut feyth anrl nakednesse and mayrlen- 

hede. 
And here agayn my clothing I restore. 
And eek my wedding-ring, for evermore. 

The remenant of your Jewels rcfly be 
In-with your chambre, dar I saufly 
sayn ; 870 

Naked out of my fadres hous,' f|U')d she, 
'I cam, and naked inuiA J tunic agayn. 



Al your plesaunce wol I folwen fayn; 
liut yet 1 hoj^e it be nat your entente 
That I smcjklees out of your i)aleys 
wente. 875 

Ye coude nat doon so dishoneste a thing, 
Tliat tliilke wombe in which your children 

leye 
Sholde, biforn the i)eple, in my walking, 
lie seyn al bare; wherfor 1 yow preye, 
l^et me nat lyk a worm go by the 

weyc. 880 

Kemembre yow, myn owene lord so dere, 
1 was your wyf, thogh I unworthy were. 

Wherfor, in guerdon of my maydenhcdc, 
Which that 1 broghte, and noght agayn 

1 here, 
As voucheth sauf to yeve me, to my 

merle, 885 

liut swich a smrjk as I was wont to were, 
That I therwith may wrye the wombe of 

here 
That was your wyf ; and hcer take I my 

levc 
Of yow, myn owcnc lord, lest I yow 

greve.' 

'The smok,' quod he, 'that thou hast on 
thy bak, 890 

I -at it \>c slillc, and ber it forth with thee.' 
liut wel unnethes thilkc word he spak, 
liut wente his wcy for rcwthe and for 

pitce. 
liiforn the folk hir-selvcn strepeth she, 
And in hir smok, with heed and f(;ot al 
bare, 895 

Toward hir facler hous forth is she fare. 

The folk hir folwe wepinge in hir weyc. 
And fortune ay theycursen as they goon; 
liut she fro weping kepte hir yen dreye, 
Ne in this tyme word ne spak she 
noon. 900 

Ilir fader, that tliis tyding herde anoon, 
Curseth the day and tyme that nature 
Shofjp him to been a lyves creature. 

J'or fjut of doute this olde povre man 
Was ever in suspect of hir mariage; 905 
J'or ever he denied, sith that it bigan, 
That whan the lord fuKild had his coragc^ 
llirn wolde thinke it were a disparage 



909-9^0'] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



100 



To his cstaat so lowc for talij^hte, 
And voydcn hir as sonc as ever he 
mightc. 910 

Agayns his doghtcr hastilicli goth he, 
For he l>y noyse of folk knew hir cominge, 
And with hir ohle eotc, as it mighte be, 
He covered hir, ful sorwefully vvepinge; 
But on hir body mighte he it nat 
bringe. 915 

For rude was the cloth, and more of age 
By dayes fclc than at hir mariage. 

Thus with hir fader, for a ccrteyn space, 
Dwelleth this flour of vvyfly pacienee, 
That neither by hir wordcs ne hir face 920 
Biforn the folk, ne eek in hir absence, 
Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence; 
Ne of hir heigh estaat no remembraunce 
Ne iiailde she, as by hir countenaunce. 

No wonder is, for in hir gretc estaat 925 
Hir goost was ever in pleyn humylitee; 
No tendre mouth, non herte delicaat. 
No pompe, no seml)lant of royaltee. 
But ful of pacient benignitee, 
Discreet and prydeles, ay honurable, 930 
And to hir housbonde ever meke and 
stable. 

Men spekc of lob and most for his hum- 

I)lcssc, 
As clerkcs, whan hem list, can wel cn- 

dyte. 
Namely of men, but as in soothfastnesse, 
Thogh clerkcs preyse wommen but a 

lyte, 935 

Ther can no man in humblesse him acquyte 
As woininan can, ne can ben half so trcwe 
As wommen been, but it be falle of-newc. 



[^Pars Sex la.'] 

Fro Boloigne is this crl of Panik come, 
Of which the fame up-sprang to more 

and lesse, 940 

And in the pcples crcs alle and some 
Was couth eek, that a newe markisesse 
He with him broghte, in swich pompe 

and richesse, 
That never was ther soyn with mannes ye 
So noble array in al West Lumbardye. 945 



The markis, which that shoop and knew 
al this, 

Er that this erl was come, sente his mes- 
sage 

For thilke sely povre Grisildis; 

And she with humble herte and glad 
visage, 

Nat with no swollen thoght in hir corage, 

Cam at his heste, and on hir knees hir 
sette, 951 

And reverently and wysly she him grette. 

* Grisild,' quod he, * my wille is outerly. 
This mayden, that shal wedded been to 

me, 
Receyved be to-morwe as royally 955 
As it possible is in myn hous to be. 
And eek that every wight in his degree 
Have his estaat in sitting and scrvyse 
And heigh plesaunce, as I can best 

devyse. 

I have no wommen suffisaunt certayn 960 
The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce 
After my lust, and therfor wolde 1 fayn 
That thyn were al swich maner govern- 

aunce; 
Thou k no west eek of old al my plesaunce; 
Though thyn array be badde and yvel 

biseye, 965 

Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.' 

* Nat only, lord, that I am glad,' quod she, 
*To doon your lust, but I dcsyre also 
Yow for to serve and plese in my degree 
With-outen feynting, and shal evermo. 
Ne never, for no wele ne no wo, 971 
Ne shal the gost with-in myn herle 

stente 
To love yow best with al my trewe en- 
tente.' 

And with that word she gan the hous to 

dighte, 
And tables for to sette and beddes make; 
And pcyncd hit to doon al that she 

mighte, 976 

Preying the chambereres, for goddes sake, 
To hasten hem, and faste swepe and 

shake; 
And she, the moste servisal)le of alle. 
Hath every chambre arrayed and his 

halle. 980 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[981-1055. 



Abouten undern gan this erl alighte, 

That with him broghte thise noble chil- 
dren tweye, 

For which the peple ran to seen the sighte 

Of hir array, so richely biseye; 

And than at erst amonges hem they seye, 

That Walter was no fool, thogh that him 
leste ■ 986 

To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the 
beste. 

For she is fairer, as they demen alle, 
Than is Grisild, and more tendre of age, 
And fairer fruit bitwene hem sholde falle, 
And more plesant, for hir heigh lin- 
age; 991 
Hir brother eek so fair was of visage, 
That hem to seen the peple hath caught 

plesaunce, 
Commending now the markis govern- 
aunce. — 

Auctor. 'O stormy peple! unsad and 
ever untrewe ! 995 

Ay undiscreet and chaunging as a vane, 

Delyting ever in rumbel that is newe. 

For lyk the mone ay wexe ye and wane; 

Ay ful of clapping, dere y-nogh a lane; 

Your doom is fals, your Constance yvel 
preveth, 1000 

A ful greet fool is he that on yow leveth ! ' 

Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee, 
Whan that the peple gazed up and doun, 
For they were glad, right for the noveltee, 
To han a newe lady of hir toun. 1005 
Na-more of this make I now mencioun; 
But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse, 
And telle hir Constance and hir bisi- 
nesse. — 

Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thing 
That to the feste was apertinent; loio 
Right noght was she abayst of hir clothing. 
Though it were rude and somdel eek to- 
rent. 
But with glad chere to the yate is went, 
With other folk, to grete the markisesse, 
And after that doth forth hir bisi- 
nesse. 1015 

With so glad chere his gestes she receyv- 
eth, 



And conningly, everich in his degree. 
That no defaute no man aperceyveth; 
But ay they wondren what she mighte be 
That in so povre array was for to see, 1020 
And coude swich honour and rever- 
ence; 
And worthily they preisen hir prudence. 

In al this mene whyle she ne stente 
This mayde and eek hir brother to com- 

mende 
With al hir herte, in ful benigne entente, 
So wel, that no man coude hir prys 

amende. 1026 

But atte laste, whan that thise lordes 

wende 
To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle 
Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle. 

' Grisilde,' quod he, as it were in his 
pley, 1030 

* How lyketh thee my wyf and hir beau- 

tee?' 

* Right wel,' quod she, 'my lord; for, in 

good fey, 
A fairer say I never noon than she. 
I prey to god yeve hir prosperitee; 
And so hope I that he wol to yow 

sende 1035 

Plesance y-nogh un-to your lyves ende. 

thing biseke I yow and warne also. 
That ye ne prikke with no tormentinge 
This tendre mayden, as ye han don mo; 
For she is fostred in hir norishinge 1040 
More tendrely, and, to my supposinge. 
She coude naL adversitee endure 

As coude a povre fostred creature.' 

And whan this Walter say hir pacience, 
Hir glade chere and no malice at al, 1045 
And he so ofte had doon to hir offence, 
And she ay sad and constant as a wal. 
Continuing ever hir innocence overal. 
This sturdy markis gan his herte dresse 
To rewen up-on hir wyfly stedfastnesse. 

'This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn,' quod 
he, 1051 

'Be now na-more agast ne yvel apayed; 

1 have thy feith and thy benignitee. 
As wel as ever womman was, assayed. 
In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed. 



I056-II24.] 



E. THE CLERKES TALE. 



Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfast- 

nesse,' — 1056 

And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse. 

And she for wonder took of it no keep; 
She herde nat what thing he to hir seyde; 
She ferde as she had stert out of a 

sleep, 1060 

Til she out of hir masednesse abreyde. 
* Grisilde,' quod he, * by god that for us 

deyde. 
Thou art my wyf, ne noon other I have, 
Ne never hadde, as god my soule save ! 

This is thy doghter which thou hast sup- 
posed 1065 

To be my wyf; that other feithfully 

Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed; 

Thou bare him in thy body trewely. 

At Boloigne have I kept hem prively; 

Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat 
seye 1070 

That thou hast lorn non of thy children 
tweye. 

And folk that otherweyes han seyd of me, 
I warne hem wel that I have doon this 

dede 
For no malice ne for no crueltee, 
But for tassaye in thee thy wommanhede. 
And nat to sleen my children, god for- 

bede ! 1076 

But for to kepe hem prively and stille, 
Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.' 

Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she 

falleth 
For pitous loye, and after hir swowninge 
She bothe hir yonge children un-to hir 

calleth, 1081 

And in hir armes, pitously wepinge, 
Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissinge 
Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teres 
She batheth bothe hir visage and hir 

heres. 1085 

O, which a pitous thing it was to see 
Hir swowning, and hir humble voys to 

here ! 
'Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow,' 

quod she, 
•That ye han saved me my children 

dere! 



Now rekke I never to ben deed right 
here; 1090 

Sith I stonde in your love and in your 
grace. 

No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace ! 

O tendre, o dere, o yonge children myne, 
Your woful mooder wende stedfastly 
That cruel houndes or som foul ver- 

myne I095 

Hadde eten yow; but god, of his mercy, 
And your benigne fader tendrely 
Hath doon yow kept;' and in that same 

stounde 
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde. 

And in her swough so sadly holdeth she 
Hir children two, whan she gan hem tem- 

brace, 11 01 

That with greet sleighte and greet diffi- 

cultee 
The children from hir arm they gonne 

arace. 
O many a teer on many a pitous face 
Doun ran of hem that stoden hir bi- 

syde; 1 105 

Unnethe abouten hir mighte they abyde. 

Walter hir gladeth, and hir sorwe slaketh; 
She ryseth up, abaysed, from hir traunce. 
And every wight hir loye and feste mak- 

eth. 
Til she hath caught agayn hir conte- 

naunce. mo 

Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce, 
That it was deyntee for to seen the chere 
Bitwixe hem two, now they ben met 

y-fere. 

Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say, 
Han taken hir, and in-to chambre goon, 
And strepen hir out of hir rude array, 1 1 1 6 
And in a cloth of gold that brighte shoon. 
With a coroune of many a riche stoon 
Up-on hir hede, they in-to halle hir broghte, 
And ther she was honoured as hir 
oghte. 1 1 20 

Thus hath this pitous day a bhsful ende, 
For every man and womman dooth his 

might 
This day in murthe and revel to dispende 
Til on the welkne shoon the sterres light. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1125-1189. 



For more solempne in every mannes 
sight 1 1 25 

This feste was, and gretter of costage, 
Than was the revel of hir mariage. 

Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee 
Liven thise two in concord and in reste, 
And richely his doghter maried he 1130 
Un-to a lord, oon of the worthieste 
Of al Itaille; and than in pees and reste 
His wyves fader in his court he kepeth, 
Til that the soule out of his body crepeth. 

His sone succedeth in his heritage 1135 
In reste and pees, after his fader day; 
And fortunat was eek in mariage, 
Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay. 
This world is nat so strong, it is no nay. 
As it hath been in olde tymes yore, 1 140 
And herkneth what this auctour seith 
therfore. 

This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves 

sholde 
Folwen Grisilde as in humilitee, 
For it were importable, though they wolde ; 
But for that every wight, in his de- 
gree, 1 145 
Sholde be constant in adversitee 
As was Grisilde; therfor Petrark wryteth 
This storie, which with heigh style he 
endyteth. 

For, sith a womman was so pacient 
Un-to a mortal man, wel more us oghte 
Receyven al in gree that god us sent ; 1 1 5 1 
For greet skile is, he preve that he wroghte. 
But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte, 
As seith seint lame, if ye his pistel rede, 
He preveth folk al day, it is no drede, 1 1 55 

And suffreth us, as for our excercyse, 
With sharpe scourges of adversitee 



Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wyse; 
Nat for to knowe our wil, for certes he. 
Ere we were born, knew al our frele- 
tee; u6o 

And for our beste is al his governaunce; 
Lat us than live in vertuous suffraunce.* 

But o word, lordinges, herkneth er I go : — 
It were ful hard to finde now a dayes 
In al a toun Grisildes three or two; 1 165 
For, if that they were put tosvviche assayes, 
The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes 
With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at 

ye, 

It wolde rather breste a-two than plye. 

For which heer, for the wyves love of 
Bathe, II 70 

Whos lyf and al hir secte god mayntene 
In heigh maistrye, and elles were it scathe, 
I wol with lusty herte fresshe and grene 
Seyn yow a song to glade yow, I wene. 
And lat us stinte of ernestful matere : — 
Herkneth my song, that seith in this man- 
ere. 11 76 

Lenvoy de Chaucer. 
Grisilde is deed, and eek hir pacience. 
And bothe atones buried in Itaille; 
P'or which I crye in open audience, 1179 
No wedded man so hardy be tassaille 
His wyves pacience, in hope to fmde 
Grisildes, for in certein he shall faille ! 

O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence, 
Lat noon humilitee your tonge naille, 
Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence 
To wryte of yow a storie of swich mer- 

vaille 1186 

As of GrisiUlis pacient and kinde; 
Lest Chichevache yow swelwe in hir 

entraille ! 
Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence, 



* // seems to have (?^^« Chaucer's intention, 
in the first instance, to end this Tale here. 
Hence, we find, in MSS. E. Hn. Cm. Dd., 
the following genuine, but rejected stanza, 
suitable for insertion at this point : — 

Bihold the merye wordes of the Hoste. 

This worthy Clerk, whan ended was his tnle, 
Our hoste seyde, and swoor by goddes bones, 



' Me were lever than a barel ale 

My wyf at hoom had herd this legende 

ones; 
This is a gentil tale for the nones, 
As to my purpos, wiste ye my wille; 
But thing that wol nat be, lat it be stille.' 

Here endeth the Tale of the Clerk of 
Oxenford. 



II90-I244.] 



E. THE MERCHANT'S PROLOGUE. 



203 



But evere answereth at the countre- 
taille; 1190 

Beth nat bidaffed for your innocence, 
But sharply tak on yow the governaille, 
Emprinteth wel this lesson in your minde 
For commune profit, sith it may availle. 

Ye archewyves, stondeth at defence, 1195 
Sin ye be stronge as is a greet camaille; 
Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon 

offence. 
And sclendre wyves, feble as in bataille, 
Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Inde; 
Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow con- 

saille. 1200 

Ne dreed hem nat, do hem no rever- 
ence; 

Here endeth the Clerk 



For though thyn housbonde armed be in 

maille, 
The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence 
Shal perce his brest, and eek his aven- 

taille; 
In lalousye I rede eek thou him binde. 
And thou shalt make him couche as 

dooth a quaille, 1206 

If thou be fair, ther folk ben in presence 
Shew thou thy visage and thyn appar- 

aille; 
If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence. 
To gete thee freendes ay do thy trav- 

aille; 1210 

Be ay of chere as light as leef on linde. 
And lat him care, and wepe, and wringe, 

and waille ! 

of Oxonford his Tale. 



THE MERCHANT'S PROLOGUE. 



The Prologe of the Marchantes Tale. 

«Weping and wayling, care, and other 

sorwe 
I know y-nogh, on even and a-morwe,' 
Quod the Marchaunt, ' and so don othere 

mo 1215 

That wedded been, I trowe that it be so. 
ror, wel I woot, it fareth so with me. 
I have a wyf, the worste that may be; 
For thogh the feend to hir y-coupled 

were, 
She wolde him overmacche, I dar wel 

swere. 1220 

What sholde I yow reherce in special 
Hir hye maUce? she is a shrewe at al. 
Ther is a long and large difference 
Bitvvix Grisildis grete pacience 
And of my wyf the passing crueltee. 1225 
Were I unbounden, al-so moot I thee ! 
I wolde never eft comen in the snare. 



We wedded men live in sorwe and care; 
Assaye who-so wol, and he shal finde 
I seye sooth, by seint Thomas of Inde, 
As for the more part, I sey nat alle. 1231 
God shilde that it sholde so bifalle ! 

A! good sir boost! I have y-wedded 
be 
Thise monthes two, and more nat, pardee; 
And yet, I trowe, he that all his lyve 
Wyflees hath been, though that men 
wolde him ryve 1236 

Un-to the herte, ne coude in no manere 
Tellen so muchel sorwe, as I now here 
Coude tellen of my wyves cursednesse ! ' 

' Now,' quod our boost, ' Marchaunt, 
so god yow blesse, 1240 

Sin ye so muchel knowen of that art, 
Ful hertely I pray yow telle us part.' 

' Gladly,' quod he, ' but of myn owene 
sore. 
For sory herte, I telle may na-more,' 



204 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1 245-1 3 1 6. 



THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Maj'chantes Tale. 

Whylom ther was dwellinge in Lum- 

bardye 1245 

A worthy knight, that born was of Pavye, 
In which he lived in greet prosperitee; 
And sixty yeer a wyflees man was he, 
And folwed ay his bodily delyt 
On wommen, ther-aswashisappetyt, 1250 
As doon thise foles that ben seculeer. 
And whan that he was passed sixty yeer, 
Were it for holinesse or for dotage, 
I can nat seye, but swich a greet corage 
Hadde this knight to been a wedded 

man, 1255 

That day and night he dooth al that he 

can 
Tespyen where he raighte wedded be; 
Preyinge our lord to granten him, that 

he 
Mighte ones knowe of thilke blisful lyf 
That is bitwixe an housbond and his 

wyf; 1260 

And for to live under that holy bond 
"With which that first god man and 

womman bond. 
*Non other lyf,' seyde he, *is worth a 

bene; 
For wedlok is so esy and so clene. 
That in this world it is a paradys.' 1265 
Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so 

wys. 
And certeinly, as sooth as god is king, 
To take a wyf, it is a glorious thing, 
And namely whan a man is old and 

hoor; 
Thanne is a wyf the fruit of his tresor. 
Than sholde he take a yong wyf and a 

feir, 1 27 1 

On vi'hich he mighte engendren him an 

heir. 
And lede his lyf in loye and in solas, 
Wher-as thise bacheleres singe ' alias,' 
Whan that they finden any adversitee 
In love, which nis but childish vanitee. 
And trewely it sit wel to be so, 1277 

That bacheleres have often peyne and 

wo; 



On brotel ground they builde, and 

brotelnesse 1279 

They finde, whan they wene sikernesse. 
They live but as a brid or as a beste, 
In libertee, and under non areste, 
Ther-as a wedded man in his estaat 
Liveth a lyf blisful and ordinaat. 
Under the yok of mariage y-bounde; 
Wel may his herte in loye and blisse 

habounde. 1286 

For who can be so buxom as a wyf ? 
Who is so trevve, and eek so ententyf 
To kepe him, syk and hool, as is his 

make ? 
For wele or wo, she wol him nat for- 
sake. 1290 
She nis nat wery him to love and serve, 
Thogh that he lye bedrede til he sterve. 
And yet somme clerkes seyn, it nis nat so, 
Of whiche he, Theofraste, is oon of tho. 
What force though Theofraste liste lye ? 
' Ne take no wyf,' quod he, ' for hous- 

bondrye, 1296 

As for to spare in houshold thy dis- 

pence; 
A trevve servant dooth more diligence, 
Thy good to kepe, than thyn owene 

wyf. 1 299 

For she wol clayme half part al hir lyf; 
And if that thou be syk, so god me save. 
Thy verray frendes or a trewe knave 
Wol kepe thee bet than she that waiteth 

ay 
After thy good, and hath don many a day.' 
And if thou take a wyf un-to thyn hold, 
Ful lightly maystow been a cokewold. 
This sentence, and an hundred thinges 

worse, 1307 

Wryteth this man, ther god his bones 

corse ! 
But take no kepe of al swich vanitee; 
Deffye Theofraste and herke me. 1310 

A wyf is goddes yifte verraily; 
Alle other maner yiftes hardily. 
As londes, rentes, pasture, or commune. 
Or moebles, alleben yiftes of fortune, 1314 
That passen as a shadwe upon a wal. 
But dredelees, if pleynly speke I shal. 



[317-1390-] 



E. THE MARCH ANTES TALE. 



205 



A wyf wol laste, and in thyn hous en- 
dure, 
Wei lenger than thee list, paraventure. 

Mariage is a ful gret sacrement; 
He which that hath no wyf, I holde him 

shent; 1320 

He liveth helplees and al desolat, 
I speke of folk in seculer estaat. 
And herke why, I sey nat this for noght, 
That womman is for mannes help 

y-wroght. 
The hye god, whan he hadde Adam 

maked, 1 325 

And saugh him. al allone, bely-naked, 
God of his grete goodnesse seyde than, 
* Lat us now make an help un-to this 

man 
Lyk to him-self; ' and thanne he made 

him Eve. 
Heer may ye se, and heer-by may ye 

preve, 1330 

That wyf is mannes help and his confort. 
His paradys terrestre and his disport. 
So buxom and so vertuous is she. 
They moste nedes live in unitee. 
O flesh they been, and o flesh, as I 

gesse, .1335 

Hath but on herte, in wele and in dis- 

tresse. 
A wyf! a! Seinte Marie, benedicite ! 
How mighte a man han any adversitee 
That hath a wyf? certes, I can nat seye. 
The blisse which that is bitwixe hem 

tweye 1340 

Ther may no tonge telle, or herte thinke. 
If he be povre, she helpeth him to 

swinke; 
She kepeth his good, and wasteth never 

a deel; 
Al that hir housbonde lust, hir lyketh 

weel; 
She seith not ones ' nay,' whan he seith 

'ye.' 1345 

*Do this,' seith he; ' al redy, sir,' seith 

she. 
O blisful ordre of wedlok precious, 
Thou art so mery, and eek so vertuous. 
And so commended and appreved eek. 
That every man that halt him worth a 

leek, 1350 

Up-on his bare knees oghte al his lyf 
Thanken his god that him hath sent a 

wyf; 



Or elles preye to god him for to sende 
A wyf, to laste un-to his lyves ende. 1354 
For thanne his lyf is set in sikernesse; 
He may nat be deceyved, as I gesse, 
So that he werke after his wyves reed; 
Than may he boldly beren up his heed, 
They been so trewe and ther-with-al so 

wyse ; 
For which, if thou wolt werken as the 

wyse, 1 360 

Do alwey so as wommen wol thee rede. 
Lo, how that lacob, as thise clerkes 

rede, 
By good conseil of his moder Rebekke, 
Bond the kides skin aboute his nekke; 
Thurgh which his fadres benisoun he 

wan. 1365 

Lo, ludith, as the storie eek telle can. 
By wys conseil she goddes peple kepte. 
And slow him, Olofernus, whyl he 

slepte. 
Lo Abigayl, by good conseil how she 
Saved hir housbond Nabal, whan that he 
Sholde han be slayn; and loke, Ester 

also 1 37 1 

By good conseil delivered out of wo 
The peple of god, and made him, Mar- 

dochee. 
Of Assuere enhaunced for to be. 1374 

Ther nis no-thing in gree superlatyf. 
As seith Senek, above an humble wyf. 

Suff're thy wyves tonge, as Caton bit; 
She shal comande, and thou shalt suffren 

it; 

And yet she wol obeye of curteisye. 

A wyf is keper of thyn housbondrye; 1 380 

Wei may the syke man biwaille and 

wepe, 
Ther-as ther nis no wyf the hous to 

kepe. 
I warne thee, if wysly thou wolt wirche, 
Love wel thy wyf, as Crist loveth his 

chirche. 
If thou lovest thy-self, thou lovest thy 

wyf; 1385 

No man hateth his flesh, but in his lyf 
He fostreth it, and therfore bidde I 

thee, 
Cherisse thy wyf, or thou shalt never 

thee. 
Housbond and wyf, what so men lape or 

pleye, 1389 

Of worldly folk holden the siker weye; 



206 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1391-1472. 



They been so knit, ther may noon harm 

bityde; 
And namely, up-on the wyves syde. 
For which this lanuarie, of whom I 

tolde, 
Considered hath, inwith hfs dayes olde, 
The lusty lyf, the vertuous quiete, 1395 
That is in mariage hony-swete; 
And for his freendes on a day he sente, 
To tellen hem theffect of his entente. 
With face said, his tale he hath hem 

told; 
He seyde, * freendes, I am hoor and old, 
And almost, god wot, on my pittes 

brinke; 1401 

Up-on my soule somwhat moste I thinke. 
I have my body folily despended; 
Blessed be god, that it shal been 

amended ! 
For I wol be, certeyn, a wedded man, 
And that anoon in al the haste I can, 
Un-to som mayde fair and tendre of age. 
I prey yow, shapeth for my mariage 
Al sodeynly, for I wol nat abyde; 1409 
And I wol fonde tespyen, on my syde, 
To whom I may be wedded hastily. 
But for-as-muche as ye ben mo than I, 
Ye shullen rather swich a thing espyen 
Than I, and wher me best were to allyen. 
But o thing warne I yow, my freendes 

dere, 14 15 

I wol non old wyf han in no manere. 
She shal nat passe twenty yeer, certayn; 
Old fish and yong flesh wolde I have ful 

fayn. 
Bet is,' quod he, * a pyk than a pikerel; 
And bet than old boef is the tendre veel. 
I wol no womman thritty yeer of age. 
It is but bene-straw and greet forage. 
And eek thise olde widwes, god it woot, 
They conne so muchel craft on Wades 

boot, 
So muchel broken harm, whan that hem 

leste, 1425 

That with hem sholde I never live in 

reste. 
For sondry scoles maken sotil clerkis; 
Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is. 
But certeynly, a yong thing may men 

gye> 

Right as men may warm wex with handes 
plye. 1430 

Wherfore I sey yow pleynly, in a clause, 



I wol non old wyf han right for this 

cause. 
For if so were, I hadde swich mis- 

chaunce. 
That I in hir ne coude han no plesaunce, 
Thanne sholde I lede my lyf in avoutrye, 
And go streight to the devel, whan I 

dye. 1436 

Ne children sholde I none up-on hir 

geten; 
Yet were me lever houndes had me eten, 
Than that myn heritage sholde falle 
In strauuge hand, and this I tell yow 

alle. 1440 

I dote nat, I woot the cause why 
Men sholde wedde, and forthermore wot 

I, 

Ther speketh many a man of mariage. 
That woot na-more of it than woot my 

page. 
For whiche causes man sholde take a 
wyf. 1445 

If he ne may nat liven chast his lyf, 
Take him a wyf with greet devocioun, 
By-cause of leveful procreacioun 
Of children, to thonour of god above, 
And nat only for paramour or love; 1450 
And for they sholde lecherye eschue. 
And yelde hir dettes whan that they ben 

due; 
Or for that ech of hem sholde helpen 

other 
In meschief, as a suster shal the brother; 
And live in chastitee ful holily. 1455 ; 

But sires, by your leve, that am nat I. 
For god be thanked, I dar make avaunt, , 
I fele my limes stark and suffisaunt 
To do al that a man bilongeth to; 
I woot my-selven best what I may do. 1460 
Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree 
That blosmeth er that fruyt y-woxen be; 
A blosmy tree nis neither drye ne deed. 
I fele me nowher hoor but on myn heed; ; 
Myn herte and alle my limes been as ; 
grene 1465 ] 

As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene. 
And sin that ye han herd al myn entente, 
I prey yow to my wil ye wole assente.' 

Diverse men diversely him tolde 
Of mariage manye ensamples olde. 1470 
Somme blamed it, somme preysed it, cer- 
teyn; 
But atte laste, shortly for to seyn. 



1473-1564-] 



E. THE MARCH ANTES TALE. 



207 



As al day falleth altercacioun 
Bitwixen freendes in disputisoun, 1474 
Ther fil a stryf bitwixe his bretheren two, 
Of vvhiche that oon was cleped Placebo, 
lustinus soothly called was that other. 
Placebo seyde, ' o lanuarie, brother, 
Ful litel nede had ye, my lord so dere, 
Conseil to axe of any that is here; 1480 
But that ye been so ful of sapience, 
That yow ne lyketh, for your heighe 

prudence. 
To weyven fro the word of Salomon. 
This word seyde he un-to us everichon : 
" Wirk alle thing by conseil," thus seyde 

he, 1485 

"And thanne sjialtow nat repente thee." 
But though that Salomon spak swich a 

word, 
Myn owene dere brother and my lord. 
So wisly god my soule bringe at reste, 
I hold your owene conseil is the 

beste. 1490 

For brother myn, of me tak this motyf, 
I have now been a court-man al my lyf. 
And god it woot, though I unworthy be, 
I have stonden in ful greet degree 
Abouten lordes of ful heigh estaat; 1495 
Yet hadde I never with noon of hem de- 

baat. 
I never hem contraried, trewely; 
I woot wel that my lord can more than I. 
What that he seith, I holde it ferme and 

stable; 1499 

I seye the same, or elles thing semblable. 
A ful gret fool is any conseillour, 
That serveth any lord of heigh honour, 
That dar presume, or elles thenken it. 
That his conseil sholde passe his lordes 

wit. 
Nay, lordes been no foles, by my fay ; 1 505 
Ye han your-selven shewed heer to-day 
So heigh sentence, so holily and weel. 
That 1 consente and conferme every-deel 
Your wordes alle, and your opinion. 1509 
By god, ther nis no man in al this toun 
Nin al Itaille, that coude bet han sayd; 
Crist halt him of this conseil wel apayd. 
And trewely, it is an heigh corage 
Of any man, that stopen is in age, 15 14 
To take a yong wyf; by my fader kin, 
Your herte hangeth on a loly pin. 
Doth now in this matere right as yow 

leste, 



For finally I holde it for the beste.' 

lustinus, that ay stille sat and herde. 
Right in this wyse to Placebo answerde : 
' Now brother myn, be pacient, I preye, 
Sin ye han seyd, and herkneth what I 

seye. 1522 

Senek among his othere wordes wyse 
Seith, that a man oghte him right wel 

avyse. 
To whom he yeveth his lond or his 

catel. 1525 

And sin I oghte avyse me right wel 
To whom I yeve my good awey fro me, 
Wel muchel more I oghte avysed be 
To whom I yeve my body; for alwey 
I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley 1530 
To take a wyf with-oute avysement. 
Men moste enquere, this is myn assent, 
Wher she be wys, or sobre, or dronkelewe, 
Or proud, or elles other-weys a shrewe; 
A chydester, or wastour of thy good, 1535 
Or riche, or poore, or elles mannish wood. 
Al-be-it so that no man finden shal 
Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, 
Ne man ne beest, swich as men coude 

devyse; 
But nathelees, it oghte y-nough suffise 1 540 
With any wyf, if so were that she hadde 
Mo gode thewes than hir vyces badde; 
And al this axeth leyser for tenquere. 
For god it woot, I have wept many a 

tere 
Ful prively, sin I have had a wyf. 1545 
Preyse who-so wole a wedded mannes lyf, 
Certein, I finde in it but cost and care. 
And observances, of alle blisses bare. 
And yet, god woot, my neighebores 

aboute, ^549 

And namely of wommen many a route, 
Seyn that I have the moste stedefast wyf. 
And eek the mekeste oon that bereth lyf. 
But I wot best wher wringeth me my she. 
Ye mowe, for me, right as yow lyketh do; 
Avyseth yow, ye i)een a man of age, 1555 
How that ye entren in-to mariage. 
And namely with a yong wyf and a fair. 
By him that made water, erthe, and air, 
The yongest man that is in al this route 
Is bisy ynogh to bringen it aboute 1 560 
To han his wyf allone, trusteth me. 
Ye shul nat plese hir fully yeres three. 
This is to seyn, to doon hir ful plesaunce. 
A wyf axeth ful many an observaunce. 



208 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1565-163J 



I prey yow that ye be nat y vel apayd.' 1 565 
' Wei,' quod this lanuarie, ' and hastow 

sayd ? 
Straw for thy Senek, and for thy prov- 

erbes, 
I counte nat a panier ful of herbes 
Of scole-termes; vvyser men than thow. 
As thou hast herd, assenteden right 

now 1570 

To my purpos; Placebo, what sey ye ? ' 
* I seye, it is a cursed man,' quod he, 
* That letteth matrimoine, sikerly.' 
And with that word they rysen sodeynly, 
And been assented fully, that he sholde 
Be wedded whanne him list and wher he 

wolde. 1576 

Heigh fantasye and curious bisinesse 
Fro day to day gan in the soule impresse 
Of lanuarie aboute his mariage. ^579 
Many fair shap, and many a fair visage 
Ther passeth thurgh his herte, night by 

night. 
As who-so toke a mirour polished bright. 
And sette it in a commune market-place, 
Than sholde he see many a figure pace 
By his mirour; and, in the same wyse, 1585 
Gan lanuarie inwith his thoght devyse 
Of maydens, whiche that dwelten him 

bisyde. 
He wiste nat wher that he mighte abyde. 
For if that oon have beaute in hir face, 
Another stant so in the peples grace 1590 
For hir sadnesse, and hir benignitee, 
That of the peple grettest voys hath she. 
And somme were riche, and hadden 

badde name. 
But nathelees, bitwixe ernest and game, 
He atte laste apoynted him on oon, 1595 
And leet alle othere from his herte goon, 
And chees hir of his owene auctoritee; 
For love is blind al day, and may nat see. 
And whan that he was in his bed y-broght, 
He purtreyed, in his herte and in his 

thoght, 1600 

Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre, 
Hir myddel smal, hir armes longe and 

sclendre, 
Hir wyse governaunce, hir gentillesse, 
Hir wommanly beringe and hir sadnesse. 
And whan that he on hir was conde- 
scended, 1605 
Him thoughte his chois mighte nat ben 

amended. 



For whan that he him-self conclude 

hadde, 
Him thoughte ech other mannes wit 

badde, 
That i.ipossible it were to replye 
Agayn his chois, this was his fan- 
tasye. 1610 
His freendes sente he to at his instaunce 
And preyed hem to doon him tha 

plesaunce. 
That hastily they wolden to him come; [ 
He wolde abregge hir labour, alle anc 

some. 
Nedeth na-more for him to go n( 

ryde, 1611 

He was apoynted ther he wolde abyde 

Placebo cam, and eek his freende! 

sone, 
And alderfirst he bad hem alle a bone. 
That noon of hem none argumentes 

make 
Agayn the purpos which that he hatl 

take; i62< 

* Which purpos was plesant to god 

seyde he, 

* And verray gVound of his prosperitee.' 

He seyde, ther was a mayden in th 

toun. 
Which that of beautee hadde greet re 

noun, 
Al were it so she were of sma 

degree; 162 

Suffyseth him hir youthe and hir beautee 
Which mayde, he seyde, he wolde han t 

his wyf, 
To lede in ese and holinesse his lyf. 
And thanked god, that he mighte hai 

hire al. 
That no wight of his blisse parte 

shal. 163c 

And preyde hem to labouren in this nede 
And shapen that he faille nat to spede; 
For thanne, he seyde, his spirit was al 

ese. 

* Thanne is,' quod he, ' no-thing may m 

displese. 

Save o thing priketh in my con-« 
science, 163 

The which I wol reherce in your pres- 
ence. 
I have,' quod he, 'herd seyd, ful yor 
ago, 

Ther may no man han parfite blisses twq 



I639-I7I7.] 



E. THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



209 



This is to seye, in erthe and eek in 

hevene. 
For though he kepe him fro the sinnes 

sevene, 1640 

And eek from every branche of thilke 

tree, 
Yet is ther so parfit felicitee, 
And so greet ese and lust in mariage, 
That ever I am agast, now in myn age, 
That I shal lede now so mery a lyf, 1645 
So delicat, with-outen wo and stryf, 
That I shal have myn hevene in erthe 

here. 
For sith that verray hevene is boght so 

dere, 
With tribulacioun and greet penaunce, 
How sholde I thanne, that live in swich 

plesaunce 1650 

As alle wedded men don with hir wyvis, 
Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on 

lyve is? 
This is my drede, and ye, my bretheren 

tweye, 
Assoilleth me this questioun, I preye.' 
lustinus, which that hated his 

folye, 1655 

Answerde anon, right in his laperye; 
And for he wolde his longe tale abregge, 
He wolde noon auctoritee allegge. 
But seyde, 'sire, so ther be noon obstacle 
Other than this, god of his hye mir- 
acle 1660 
And of his mercy may so for yow wirche. 
That, er ye have your right of holy 

chirche, 
Ye may repente of wedded mannes lyf. 
In which ye seyn ther is no wo ne stryf. 
And elles, god forbede but he sente 1665 
A wedded man him grace to repente 
Wei ofte rather than a sengle man ! 
And therfore, sire, the beste reed I can, 
Dispeire yow noght, but have in your 

memorie, 
Paraunter she may be your purga- 

torie ! 1670 

She may be goddes mene, and goddes 

whippe; 
Than shal your soule up to hevene skippe 
Swifter than dooth an arwe out of the 

bowe ! 
I hope to god, her-after shul ye knowe, 
That their nis no so greet felicitee 1675 
In mariage, ne never-mo shal be, 



That yow shal lette of your savacioun, 
So that ye use, as skile is and resoun, 
The lustes of your wyf attemprely. 
And that ye plese hir nat to amor- 
ously, 1680 
And that ye kepe yow eek from other 

sinne. 
My tale is doon : — for my wit is thinne. 
Beth nat agast her-of, my brother dere.' — 
(But lat us waden out of this matere. 
The Wyf of Bathe, if ye han under- 
stonde, 1685 

Of mariage, which we have on honde. 
Declared hath ful wel in litel space). — 
' Fareth now wel, god have yow in his 
grace.' 
And with this word this lustin and his 
brother 
Han take hir leve, and ech of hem of 
other. 1690 

For whan they sawe it moste nedes be. 
They wroghten so, by sly and wys tretee, 
That she, this mayden, which that Maius 

highte. 
As hastily as ever that she mighte, 
Shal wedded be un-to this lanuarie. 1695 
I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie, 
If I yow tolde of every scrit and bond. 
By which that she was feffed in his lond; 
Or for to herknen of hir riche array. 
But finally y-comen is the day 1700 

That to the chirche bothe be they went 
For to receyve the holy sacrement. 
Forth comth the preest, with stole aboute 

his nekke. 
And bad hir be lyk Sarra and Rebekke, 
In wisdom and in trouthe of ma- 
nage; 1705 
And seyde his orisons, as is usage. 
And crouched hem, and bad god sholde 

hem blesse. 
And made al siker y-nogh with holinesse. 
Thus been they wedded with solemp- 
nitee. 
And at the feste sitteth he and she 1710 
With other worthy folk up-on the deys. 
Al ful of loye and blisse is the paleys. 
And ful of instruments and of vitaille. 
The moste deyntevous of al Itaille. 
Biforn hem stoode swiche instruments of 
soun, 1715 

That Orpheus, ne of Thebes Amphioun, 
Ne maden never swich a melodye. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1718-1798, 



At every cours than cam loud min- 

straleye, 
That never tromped loab, for to here, 
Nor he, Theodomas, yet half so clere, 1 720 
At Thebes, v/han the citee was in doute. 
Bacus the wyn hem skinketh al aboute, 
And Venus laugheth up-on every wight. 
For lanuarie was bicome hir knight, 
And wolde bothe assayen his corage 1725 
In libertee, and eek in mariage; 
And with hir fyrbrond in hir hand aboute 
Daunceth biforn the bryde and al the 

route. 
And certeinly, I dar right wel seyn this, 
Ymeneus, that god of wedding is, 1730 
Saugh never his lyf so mery a wedded 

man. 
Hold thou thy pees, thou poete Marcian, 
That wry test us that ilke wedding murie 
Of hir, Phiiologye, and him, Mercurie, 
And of the songes that the Muses 

songe. 1735 

To smal is bothe thy penne, and eek thy 

tonge. 
For to descryven of this mariage. 
Whan tendre youthe hath wedded stoup- 

ing age, 
Ther is svvich mirthe that it may nat be 

writen; 
Assayeth it your-self, than may ye witen 
If that I lye or noon in this matere. 1741 
Maius, that sit with so benigne a 

chere, 
Hir to biholde it semed fayerye; 
Quene Ester loked never with svvich an 

ye 1744 

On Assuer, so meke a look hath she. 
I may yow nat devyse al hir beautee; 
But thus muche of hir beautee telle I 

may. 
That she was lyk the brighte morwe of 

May, 
Fulfild of alle beautee and plesaunce. 

This lanuarie is ravisshed in a traunce 
At every time he loked on hir face; 1751 
But in his herte he gan hir to manace. 
That he that night in armes wolde hir 

streyne 
Harder than ever Paris dide Eleyne. 
But nathelees, yet hadde he greet 

pitee, 1755 

That thilke night offenden hir moste he; 
And thoughte, * alias ! o tendre creature ! 



Now wolde god ye mighte wel endure 
Al my corage, it is so sharp and kene; 
I am agast ye shul it nat sustene. 1760 
But god forbede that I dide al my might ! 
Now wolde god that it were woxen night, 
And that the night wolde lasten evermo. 
I wolde that al this peple were ago.' 
And finally, he doth al his labour, 1765 
As he best mighte savinge his honour. 
To haste hem fro the mete in subtil wyse. 
The tyme cam that reson was to ryse; 
And after that, men daunce and drinken 

faste. 
And spyces al aboute the hous they 

caste; 1770 

And ful of loye and blisse is every man; 
All but a squyer, highte Damian, 
Which carf biforn the knight ful many a 

day. 
He was so ravisshed on his lady May, 
That for the verray peyne he was ny 

wood; 1775 

Almost he swelte and swowned ther he 

stood. 
So sore hath Venus hurt him with hir 

brond. 
As that she bar it daunsinge in hir hond. 
And to his bed he wente him hastily; 
Na-more of him as at this tyme speke I. 
But ther I lete him wepe y-nough and 

pleyne, 1781 

Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne. 

O perilous fyr, that in the bedstraw 

bredeth ! Auctor. 

O famulier foo, that his servyce bedeth ! 
O servant traitour, false hoomly hewe, 
Lyk to the naddre in bosom sly un- 

trewe, 1786 

God shilde us alle from your aqueynt- 

aunce ! 
O lanuarie, dronken in plesaunce 
Of mariage, see how thy Damian, 
Thyn owene squyer and thy borne man, 
Entendeth for to do thee vileinye. 179I 
God graunte thee thyn hoomly fo tespye. 
For in this world nis worse pestilence 
Than hoomly foo al day in thy presence, 
Parfourned hath the sonne his ark 

diurne, 1 795 

No lenger may the body of him soiurne 
On thorisonte, as in that latitude. 
Night with his mantel, that is derk and 

rude, 



[799-1871.] 



E. THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



Gan oversprede the hemisperie aboute; 
For which departed is this lusty route 
Fro lanuarie, with thank on every 

syde. 1 801 

Horn to hir houses lustily they ryde, 
Wher-as they doon hir thinges as hem 

leste, 
And whan they sye hir tyme, goon to reste. 
Sone after that, this hastif lanuarie 1805 
Wolde go to bedde, he wolde no lenger 

tarie. 
He drinketh ipocras, clarree, and vernage 
Of spyces hote, tencresen his corage; 
And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn, 
Swiche as the cursed monk dan Con- 

stantyn 1810 

Hath writen in his book de Coiin ; 
To eten hem alle, he nas no-thing eschu. 
And to his privee freendes thus seyde he : 
*For goddes love, as sone as it may be, 
Lat voyden al this hous in curteys wyse.' 
And they han doon right as he wol de- 

vyse 1 8 1 6 

Men drinken, and the travers drawe anon ; 
The bryde was broght a-bedde as stille 

as stoon; 
And whan the bed was with the preest 

y-blessed. 
Out of the chambre hath every wight him 

dressed. 1820 

And lanuarie hath faste in armes take 
His fresshe May, his paradys, his make. 
He lulleth hir, he kisseth hir ful ofte 
With thikke bristles of his herd unsofte, 
Lyk to the skin of houndfish, sharp as 

brere, 1825 

For he was shave al newe in his manere. 
He rubbeth hir aboute hir tendre face. 
And seyde thus, ' alias ! I moot trespace 
To yow, my spouse, and yow gretly 

offende, 
Er tyme come that I wil doun de- 

scende. 1830 

But nathelees, considereth this,' quod he, 
' Ther nis no werkman, what-so-ever he 

be, 
That may bothe werke vi'el and hastily; 
This wol be doon at leyser parfitly. 1834 
It is no fors how longe that we pleye; 
In trewe wedlok wedded be we tweye; 
And blessed be the yok that we been 

inne, 
For in our actes we mowe do no sinne. 



A man may do no sinne with his wyf, 
Ne hurte him-selven with his owene 

knyf; 1840 

For we han leve to pleye us by the 

lawe.' 
Thus laboureth til that the daygan dawe; 
And than he taketh a sop in fyn clarree, 
And upright in his bed than sitteth he, 
And after that he sang ful loude and 

clere, 1845 

And kiste his wyf, and made wantoun 

chere. 
He was al coltish, ful of ragerye, 
And ful of Jargon as a flekked pye. 
The slakke skin aboute his nekke 

shaketh, 
Whyl that he sang; so chaunteth he and 

craketh. 1850 

But god wot what that May thoughte in 

hir herte, 
Whan she him saugh up sittinge in his 

sherte, 
In his night-cappe, and with his nekke 

lene; 
She preyseth nat his pleying worth a 

bene. 
Than seide he thus, ' my reste wol I 

take; 1855 

Now day is come, I may no lenger 

wake.' 
And doun he leyde his heed, and sleep 

til pryme. 
And afterward, whan that he saugh his 

tyme. 
Up ryseth lanuarie; but fresshe May 
Holdeth hir chambre un-to the fourthe 

day, i860 

As usage is of wyves for the beste. 
For every labour som-tyme moot han 

reste. 
Or elles longe may he nat endure; 
This is to seyn, no lyves creature, 
Be it of fish, or brid, or beest, ' or 

man. 1865 

Now wol I speke of woful Da- 

mian, Atutor. 

That languissheth for love, as ye shul 

here; 
Therfore I speke to him in this manere : 
I seye, ' O sely Damian, alias ! 
Answere to my demaunde, as in this 

cas, 1870 

How shaltow to thy lady fresshe May 



212 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1872-1951. 



Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye 

"nay"; 
Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo 

biwreye; 
God be thyn help, I can no bettre seye.' 
This syke Damian in Venus fyr 1875 
So brenneth, that he dyeth for desyr; 
For which he putte his lyf in aventure 
No lenger mighte he in this wyse endure; 
But prively a penner gan he borwe, 
And m a lettre vvroot he al his sorwe, iSSo 
In manere of a compleynt or a lay, 
Un-to his faire fresshe lady May. 
And in a purs of silk, heng on his sherte, 
He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. 
The mone that, at noon, was, thilke 

clay 1885 

That lanuarie hath wedded fresshe May, 
In two of Taur, was in-to Cancre gliden; 
So longe hath Maius in hir chambre 

biden. 
As custume is un-to thise nobles alle. 
A bryde shal nat eten in the halle, 1890 
Til dayes foure or three dayes atte leste 
Y-passed been ; than lat hir go to feste. 
The fourthe day conipleet fro noon to 

noon. 
Whan that the heighe masse was y-doon. 
In halle sit this lanuarie, and May 1895 
As fresh as is the brighte someres day. 
And so bifel, how that this gode man 
Remembred him upon this Daniian, 
And seyde, ' Seinte Marie ! how may 

this be. 
That Damian entendeth nat to me? 1900 
Is he ay syk, or how may this bityde?' 
His squyeres, whiche that stoden ther 

bisyde. 
Excused him by-cause of his siknesse, 
Which letted him to doon his bisinesse; 
Noon other cause mighte make him 

tarie. 1905 

* That me forthinketh,' quod this lanu- 
arie, 
* He is a gentil squyer, by my trouthe ! 
If that he deyde, it were harm and 

routhe; 
He is as wys, discreet, and as secree 
As any man I woot of his degree; 1910 
And ther-to manly and eek servisable. 
And for to been a thrifty man right able. 
But after mete, as sone as ever I may, 
I wol my-self visyte him and eek May, 



To doon him al the confort that I can.' 
And for that word him blessed every 
man, 1 9 16 

That, of his bountee and his gentillesse. 
He wolde so conforten in siknesse 
His squyer, for it was a gentil dede. 

• Dame,' quod this lanuarie, * tak good 

hede, 1920 

At-after mete ye, with your wommen 

alle, 
"Whan ye han been in chambre out of 

this halle, 
That alle ye go to* see this Damian; 
Doth him disport, he is a gentil man; 
And telleth him that I wol him visyte, 
Have I no-thing but rested me a lyte; 
And spede yow faste, for I wole abyde 
Til that ye slepe faste by my syde.' 1928 
And with that word he gan to him to 

calle 
A squyer, that was marchal of his halle, 
And tolde him certeyn thinges, what he 

wolde. 1931 

This fresshe May hath streight hir wey 

y-holde, 
With alle hir wommen, un-to Damian. 
Doun by his beddes syde sit she than, 
Confortinge him as goodly as she may. 
This Damian, whan that his tyme he 

say, 1936 

In secree wise his purs, and eek his 

bille, 
In which that he y-writen hadde his 

wille. 
Hath put in-to hir hand, with-outen 

more, 
Save that he syketh wonder depe and 

sore, 1940 

And softely to hir right thus seyde he : 

* Mercy ! and that ye nat discovere me; 
For I am deed, if that this thing be 

kid.' 
This purs hath she inwith hir bosom hid, 
And wente hir wey ; ye gete namore oil 

me. 1945] 

But un-to lanuarie y-comen is she, 
That on his beddes syde sit ful softe. 
He taketh hir, and kisseth hir ful ofte, 
And leyde him doun to slepe, and that] 

anon. 
She feyned hir as that she moste gon 
Ther-as ye woot that every wight motj 

nede. 195I 



I952-2029.J 



E. THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



213 



And whan she of this bille hath taken 

hede, 
She rente it al to cloutes atte laste, 
And in the privee softely it caste. 

Who studieth now but faire fresshe 
May? 1955 

Adoun by olde lanuarie she lay, 
That sleep, til that the coughe hath him 

awaked; 
Anon he preyde hir strepen hir al 

naked; 
He wolde of hir, he seyde, han som ple- 

saunce. 
And seyde, hir clothes dide him encom- 
braunce, 1960 

And she obeyeth, be hir lief or looth. 
But lest that precious folk be with me 

wrooth, 
How that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow 

telle; 
Or whether hir thoughte it paradys or 

helle; 
But here I lete hem werken in hir wyse 
Til evensong rong, and that they moste 
aryse. 1966 

Were it by destinee or aventure. 
Were it by influence or by nature, 
Or constellacion, that in swich estat 
The hevene stood, that tyme fortunat 
Was for to putte a bille of Venus werkes 
(For alle thing hath tyme, as seyn thise 
clerkes) 1972 

To any womnian, for to gete hir love, 
I can nat seye; but grete god above, 
That knoweth that non act is causelees, 
He deme of al, for I wol holde my pees. 
But sooth is this, how that this fresshe 

May 
Hath take swich impression that day, 
For pitee of this syke Damian, 1979 

That from hir herte she ne dryve can 
The remembraunce for to doon him ese. 
'Certeyn,' thoghte she, 'whom that this 

thing displese, 
I rekke noght, for here I him assure, 
To love him best of any creature, 
Though he na-more hadde than his 
sherte.' 1985 

Lo, pitee renneth sone in gentil herte. 
Heer may ye se how excellent fran- 
chyse 
In wommen is, whan they hem narwe 
avyse. 



Som tyrant is, as ther be many oon, 
That hath an herte as hard as any stoon, 
Which wolde han lete him sterven in the 
place 1991 

Wei rather than han graunted him hir 

grace; 
And hem reioysen in hir cruel pryde. 
And rekke nat to been an homicyde. 

This gentil May, fulfilled of pitee, 1995 
Right of hir hande a lettre made she, 
In which she graunteth him hir verray 

grace; 
Ther lakketh noght but only day and 

place, 
Wher that she mighte un-to his lust 

suffyse : 
For it shal be right as he m^oI devyse. 
And whan she saugh hir time, up-on a 
<^ay, 2001 

To visite this Damian goth May, 
And sotilly this lettre doun she threste 
Under his pilwe, rede it if him leste. 
She taketh him by the hand, and harde 
him twiste 2005 

So secrely, that no wight of it wiste. 
And bad him' been al hool, and forth she 

wente 

To lanuarie, whan that he for hir sente. 

Up ryseth Damian the nexte morwe, 

Al passed was his siknesse and his 

sorwe. 2010 

He kembeth him, he proyneth him and 

pyketh, 
He dooth al that his lady lust and 

lyketh; 
And eek to lanuarie he gooth as lowe 
As ever dide a dogge for the bowe. 
He is so plesant un-to every man, 2015 
(For craft is al, who-so that do it can) 
That every wight is fayn to speke him 

good ; 
And fully in his lady grace he stood. 
Thus lete I Damian aboute his nede. 
And in my tale forth I wol procede. 2020 

Somme clerkes holden that felicitee 
Stant in delyt, and therefor certeyn he. 
This noble lanuarie, with al his might. 
In honest wyse, as longeth to a knight, 
Shoop him to live ful deliciously. 2025 
His housinge, his array, as honestly 
To his degree was maked as a kinges. 
Amonges othere of his honest thinges, 
He made a gardin, walled al with stoon; 



214 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2030-2 1 1 2. 



So fair a gardln woot I nowher noon. 2030 
For out of doute, I verraily suppose, 
That he that wroot the Romance of the 

Rose 
Ne coude of it the beautee wel devyse; 
Ne Priapus ne mighte nat suffyse, 
Though he be god of gardins, for to 

telle 2035 

The beautee of the gardin and the vvelle, 
That stood under a laurer alwey grene. 
Ful ofte tyme he, Pluto, and his quene, 
Proserpina, and al hir fayerye 
Disporten hem and maken melodye 2040 
Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men 

tolde. 
This noble knight, this lanuarie the 

olde, 
Swich deintee hath in it to walke and 

pleye, 
That he wol no wight suffren bere the 

keye 
Save he him-self; for of the smale wiket 
He bar alwey of silver a smal cliket, 2046 
With which, whan that him leste, he it 

unshette. 
And whan he wolde paye his wyf hir dette 
In somer seson, thider wolde he go. 
And May his wyf, and no wight but they 

two; 2050 

And thinges whiche that were nat doon 

a-bedde, 
He in the gardin parfourned hem and 

spedde. 
And in this wyse, many a mcry day. 
Lived this lanuarie and fresshe May. 
But worldly loye may nat alwey dure 2055 
To lanuarie, ne to no creature. 

O sodeyn hap, o thou fortune in- 
stable, A tutor. 
Lyk to the scorpioun so deceivable, 
That flaterest with thyn heed when thou 

wolt stinge; 
Thy tayl is deeth, thurgh thyn envenim- 

inge. 2060 

O brotil loye ! o swete venim queynte ! 
O monstre, that so subtilly canst peynte 
Thy yiftes, under hewe of stedfastnesse. 
That thou deceyvest bothe more and lesse ! 
Why hastow lanuarie thus deceyved, 2065 
That haddest him for thy ful frend re- 

ceyved ? 
And now thou hast biraft him bothe hise 

yen, 



For sorwe of which desyreth he to dyen. 
Alias ! this noble lanuarie free, 
Amidde his lust and his prosperitee, 2070 
Is woxen blind, and that al sodeynly. 
He wepeth and he wayleth pitously; 
And ther-with-al the fyr of lalousye. 
Lest that his wyf sholde falle in som 

folye, 
So brente his herte, that he wolde fayn 
That som man bothe him and hir had 

slayn. 2076 

For neither after his deeth, nor in his lyf, 
Ne wolde he that she were love ne wyf, 
But ever live as widvve in clothes blake. 
Soul as the turtle that lost hath hir 

make. 2080 

But atte laste, after a monthe or tweye, 
His sorwe gan aswage, sooth to seye; 
Por whan he wiste it may noon other be. 
He paciently took his adversitee; 
Save, out of doute, he may nat for- 

goon 2085 

That he nas lalous evermore in oon; 
Which lalousye it was so outrageous, 
That neither in halle, nin noon other hous, 
Ne in noon other place, never-the-mo, 
He nolde suffre hir for to ryde or go, 2090 
But-if that he had hand on hir alway; 
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May, 
That loveth Damian so benignely, 
That she mot outher dyen sofleynly. 
Or elles she mot han him as hir leste ; 2095 
She wayteth whan hir herte wolde breste. 

Up-on that other syde Uamian 
Bicomen is the sorwefuUeste man 
That ever was; for neither night ne day 
Ne mighte he spcke a word to fresshe 

May, 2100 

As to his purpos, of no swich matere, 
But-if that lanuarie moste it here, 
That hadde an hand up-on hir evermo. 
But nathelees, by wryting to and fro 
And privee signes, wiste he what she 

mentc; 2105 

And she knew eek the fyn of his entente. 

O lanuarie, what mighte it thee 

availle, Auctor. 

Thou mightest see as fer as shippes saille? 
For also good is blind deceyved be, 
As be deceyved whan a man may se. 21 10 
Lo, Argus, which that hadde an hondred 

yen. 
For al that ever he coude poure or pryen. 



2II3-2I93] 



E. THE MARCH ANTES TALE. 



5 



Yet was he blent; and, god wot, so ben 

mo. 
That wenen wisly that it be nat so. 
Passe over is an ese, I sey na-more. 21 15 
This fresshe May, that I spak of so yore, 
In warme wex hath emprented the cliket, 
That lanuarie bar of the smale wiket, 
By which in-to his gardin ofte he wente. 
And Damian, that knew al hir entente, 
The cliket countrefeted prively; 21 21 
Ther nis na-more to seye, but hastily 
Som wonder by this cliket shal bityde, 
Which ye shul heren, if ye wole abyde. 
O noble Ovyde, ful sooth seystou, god 

woot ! A uctor. 

What sleighte is it, thogh it be long and 

hoot, 2126 

That he nil finde it out in som manere? 
By Piramus and Tesbee may men lere ; 
Thogh they were kept ful longe streite 

overal. 
They been accorded, rouninge thurgh a 

wal, 2130 

Ther no wight coude han founde out 

swich a sleighte. 

But now to purpos; er that dayes eighte 

Were passed, er the monthe of luil, bifil 

That lanuarie hath caught so greet a wil, 

Thurgh egging of his wyf, him for to 

pleye 2135 

In his gardin, and no wight but they 

tweye. 
That in a morwe un-to this May seith he : 
* Rys up, my wyf, my love, my lady free ; 
The turtles vois is herd, my douve swete; 
The winter is goon, with alle his reynes 

wete ; 2140 

Com forth now, with thyn eyen columbyn ! 
How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn ! 
The gardin is enclosed al aboute; 
Com forth, my whyte spouse; out of doute. 
Thou hast me wounded in myn herte, o 

wyf! 2145 

No spot of thee ne knew I al my lyf. 
Com forth, and lat us taken our disport; 
I chees thee for my wyf and my confort.' 

Swiche olde lewed wordes used he; 
On Damian a signe made she, 2150 

That he sholde go biforen with his cliket : 
This Damian thanne hath opened the 

wiket, 
And in he stirte, and that in swich man- 
ere, 



That no wight mighte it see neither 

y-here; 
And stille he sit under a bush anoon. 2155 

This lanuarie, as blind as is a stoon, 
With Mains in his hand, and no wight mo, 
In-to his fresshe gardin is ago. 
And clapte to the wiket sodeynly. 

* Now, wyf,' quod he, ' heer nis but thou 

and I, 2160 

That art the creature that I best love. 
For, by that lord that sit in heven above. 
Lever ich hadde dyen on a knyf. 
Than thee offende, trewe dere wyf! 
For goddes sake, thenk how I thee 

chees, 2165 

Noght for no coveityse, doutelees. 
But only for the love I had to thee. 
And though that I be old, and may nat 

see, 
Beth to me trewe, and I shal telle yow 

why. 
Three thinges, certes, shul ye winne 

ther-by; 2170 

First, love of Crist, and to your-self hon- 
our. 
And al myn heritage, toun and tour; 
I yeve it yow, maketh chartres as yow 

leste; 
This shal be doon to-morwe er sonne 

reste. 2174 

So wisly god my soule bringe in blisse, 
I prey yow first, in covenant ye me kisse. 
And thogh that I be lalous, wyte me 

noght. 
Ye been so depeenprented in mythoght. 
That, whan that I considere your beautee, 
And ther-with-al the unlykly elde of 

me, 2180 

I may nat, certes, thogh I sholde dye, 
Forbere to been out of your companye 
For verray love; this is with-outen doute. 
Now kis me, wyf, and lat us rome aboute.' 
This fresshe May, whan she thise 

wordes herde, 2185 

Benignely to lanuarie answerde. 
But first and forward she bigan to wepe, 
' 1 have,' quod she, ' a soule for to kepe 
As wel as ye, and also myn honour, 2189 
And of my wyf hod thilke tendre flour, 
Which that I have assured in your bond. 
Whan that the preest to yow my body 

bond; 
Wherfore I wole answere in this manere 



2l6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2194-2278. 



By the leve of yow, my lord so dere : 2194 
I prey to god, that never dawe the day 
That I ne sterve, as foule as womman 

may, 
If ever I do un-to my kin that shame, 
Or elles I empeyre so my name, 
That 1 be fals; and if I do that lakke, 
Do strepe me and put me in a sakke, 2200 
And in the nexte river do me drenche. 
I am a gentil womman and no wenche. 
Why speke ye thus ? but men ben ever 

untrevve. 
And wommen have repreve of yow ay 

newe. 
Ye han non other contenance, I leve, 2205 
But speke to us of untrust and repreve.' 
And with that word she saugh wher 

D ami an 
Sat in the bush, and coughen she bigan, 
And with her finger signes made she, 2209 
That Damian sholde climbe up-on a tree, 
That charged was with fruit, and up he 

wente ; 
For verraily he knew al hir entente. 
And every signe that she coude make 
Wei bet than lanuarie, hir owene make 
For in a lettre she had told him al 2215 
Of this matere, how he werchen shal. 
And thus I lete him sitte up-on the pyrie, 
And lanuarie and May rominge myrie. 
Bright was the day, and blew the fir- 
mament, 2219 
Phebus of gold his stremes doun hath sent. 
To gladen every flour with his warmnesse. 
He was that tyme iji Ge?ninis, as I gesse, 
But litel fro his declinacioun 
Of Cancer, lovis exaltacioun. 2224 
And so bifel, that brighte morwe-tyde. 
That in that gardin, in the ferther syde, 
Pluto, that is the king of fayerye. 
And many a lady in his companye, 
Folwinge his wyf, the quene Proserpyne, 
Ech after other, right as any lyne — 2230 
Whil that she gadered floures in the mede, 
In Claudian ye may the story rede. 
How in his grisly carte he hir fette : — 
This king of fairye thanne adoun him sette 
Up-on a bench of turves, fresh and grene, 
And right anon thus seyde he to his 

quene. 2236 

* My wyf,' quod he, * ther may no wight 

sey nay; 
Thexperience so preveth every day 



The treson whiche that wommen doon to 

man. 
Ten hondred thousand [stories] telle I 

can 2240 

Notable of your untrouthe and brotilnesse. 
O Salomon, wys, richest of richesse, 
Fulfild of sapience and of worldly glorie, 
Ful worthy been thy wordes to memorie 
To every wight that wit and reson 

can. 2245 

Thus preiseth he yet the bountee of man : 
" Amonges a thousand men yet fond I 

oon. 
But of wommen alle fond I noon." 

Thus seith the king that knoweth your 

wikkednesse; 
And iQSMsJilius Syrak, as I gesse, 2250 
Ne speketh of yow but selde reverence. 
A wilde fyr and corrupt pestilence 
So falle up-on your bodies yet to-night ! 
Ne see ye nat this honurable knight. 
By-cause, alias! that he is blind and 

old, 2255 

His owene man shal make him cokewold; 
Lo heer he sit, the lechour, in the tree. 
Now wol I graunten, of my magestee, 
Un-to this olde blinde worthy knight 
That he shal have ayeyn his eyen sight. 
Whan that his wyf wold doon him vil- 

einye; 2261 

Than shal he knowen al hir harlotrye 
Both in repreve of hir and othere mo.' 

* Ye shal,' quod Proserpyne, ' wol ye so'. 
Now, by my modres sires soule I 

swere, 2265 

That I shal yeven hir suffisant answere. 
And alle wommen after, for hir sake; 
That, though they be in any gilt y-take. 
With face bold they shuUe hem-self ex- 
cuse, 
And here hem doun that wolden hem ac- 
cuse. 2270 
For lakke of answer, noon of hem shal 

dyen. 
Al hadde man seyn a thing with bothe 

his yen, 
Yit shul we wommen visage it hardily. 
And wepe, and swere, and chyde subtilly. 
So that ye men shul been as lewed as 

gees. 2275 

What rekketh me of your auctoritees? 

I woot wel that this lew, this Salomon, 
Fond of us wommen foles many oon. 



2279-23490 



E. THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



217 



But though that he ne fond no good 

womman, 
Yet hath ther founde many another man 
Wommen ful trevve, ful gode, and vertu- 

ous. 2281 

Witnesse on hem that dvvelle in Cristes 

hous, 
With martirdom they preved hir con- 
stance. 
The Romayn gestes maken remembrance 
Of many a verray trewe wyf also. 2285 
But sire, ne be nat wrooth, al-be-it so, 
Though that he seyde he fond no good 

womman, 
I prey yow take the sentence of the man; 
He mente thus, that in sovereyn bontee 
Nis noon but god, that sit in Trini- 

tee. 2290 

Ey ! for verray god, that nis but oon. 
What make ye so muche of Salomon? 
What though he made a temple, goddes 

hous? 
What though he were riche and glorious? 
So made he eek a temple of false god- 

dis, 2295 

How mighte he do a thing that more for- 

bode is ? 
Pardee, as faire as ye his name emplastre, 
He was a lechour and an ydolastre; 
And in his elde he verray god forsook. 
And if that god ne hadde, as seith the 

book, 2300 

Y-spared him for his fadres sake, he 

sholde 
Have lost his regne rather than he wolde. 
I sette noght of al the vileinye, 
That ye of wommen wryte, a boterflye. 
I am a womman, nedes moot I speke. 
Or elles swelle til myn herte breke. 2306 
For sithen he seyde that we ben langle- 

resses. 
As ever hool I mote brouke my tresses, 
I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, 
To speke him harm that wolde us vil- 
einye.' 2310 
* Dame,' quod this Pluto, * be no 

lenger wrooth; 
I yeve it up ; but sith I swoor myn 00th 
That I wolde graunten him his sighte 

ageyn. 
My word shal stonde, I warne yow, 

certeyn. 
I am a king, it sit me noght to lye.' 2315 



' And I,' quod she, ' a queene of 
fayerye. 

Hir answere shal she have, I under- 
take; 

Lat us na-more wordes heer-of make. 

For sothe, I wol no lenger yow con- 
trarie.' 2319 

Now lat us turne agayn to lanuarie, 

That in the gardin with his faire May 

Singeth, ful merier than the papeiay, 

* Yow love I best, and shal, and other 

noon.' 
So longe aboute the aleyes is he goon, 
Til he was come agaynes thilke pyrie, 
Wher-as this Damian sitteth ful myrie 
An heigh, among the fresshe leves grene. 
This fresshe May, that is so bright and 

shene. 
Can for to syke, and seyde, ' alias, my 

syde! 
Now sir,' quod she, * for aught that may 

bityde, 2330 

I moste han of the peres that I see, 
Or I mot dye, so sore longeth me 
To eten of the smale peres grene. 
Help, for hir love that is of hevene 

quene ! 2334 

I telle yow wel, a womman in my plyt 
May han to fruit so greet an appetyt. 
That she may dyen, but she of it have.' 
' Alias ! ' quod he, ' that I ne had 

heer a knave 
That coude climbe; alias! alias!' quod 

he, 
'That I am blind.' *Ye, sir, no fors,' 

quod she : 2340 

* But wolde ye vouche-sauf, for goddes 

sake, 
The pyrie inwith your armes for to 

take, 
(For wel I woot that ye mistruste me) 
Thanne sholde I climbe wel y-nogh,' 

quod she, 

* So I my foot mighte sette upon your 

bak.' 2345 

* Certes,' quod he, ' ther-on shal be no 

lak, 
Mighte I yow helpen with myn herte 

blood.' 
He stoupeth doun, and on his bak she 

stood. 
And caughte her by a tvviste, and up 

she gooth. 



2l8 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[2350-2418, 



Ladies, I prey yow that ye be nat 

wrooth ; 2350 

I can nat glose, I am a rude man. 
And sodeynly anen this Damian 
Can puUen up the smok, and in he 

throng. 
And whan that Pluto saugh this grete 

wrong, 
To lanuarie he gaf agayn his sighte, 2355 
And made him see, as wel as ever he 

mighte. 
And whan that he hadde caught his 

sighte agayn, 
Ne was ther never man of thing so fayn. 
But on his wyf his thoght was evermo; 
Up to the tree he caste his eyen two, 
And saugh that Damian his wyf had 

dressed 2361 

In swich manere, it may nat ben ex- 
pressed 
But if I wolde speke uncurteisly : 
And up he yaf a roring and a cry 
As doth the moder whan the child shal 

dye : 2365 

* Out ! help ! alias ! harrow ! ' he gan to 

crye, 
' O stronge lady store, what dostow? ' 
And she answerde, ' sir, what eyleth 

yow? 
Have pacience, and reson in your 

minde, 
I have yow holpe on bothe your eyen 

blinde. 2370 

Up peril of my soule, I shal nat lyen. 
As me was taught, to hele with your yen, 
Was no-thing bet to make yow to see 
Than strugle with a man up-on a tree. 
God woot, I dide it in ful good entente.' 
* Strugle ! ' quod he, ' ye, algate in it 

wente ! 2376 

God yeve yow bothe on shames deeth 

to dyen ! 
He swyvedthee, I saugh it with myne yen. 
And elles be I hanged by the hals ! ' 
'Thanne is,' quod she, ' my medicyne 

al fals ; 2380 

For certeinly, if that ye mighte see, 

Ye wolde nat seyn thise wordes un-to me; 

Ye han som glimsing and no parfit sighte.' 

*I see,' quod he, 'as wel as ever I 

mighte, 

Here is ended the Marc 



Thonked be god ! with bothe myne 
eyen two, 2385 

And by my trouthe, me thoughte he 
dide thee so.' 

* Ye maze, maze, gode sire,' quod she, 

' This thank have 1 for I have maad yow 

see; 
Alias ! ' quod she, ' that ever I was so 

kinde ! ' 
'Now, dame,' quod he, Mat al passe 

out of minde. 2390 

Com doun, my lief, and if I have mis- 
say d, 
God help me so, as I am yvel apayd. 
But, by my fader soule, I wende han 

seyn, 
How that this Damian had by thee 

leyn. 
And that thy smok had leyn up-on his 

brest.' 2395 

* Ye, sire,' quod she, * ye may wene as 

yow lest; 
But, sire, a man that waketh out of his 

sleep, 
He may nat sodeynly wel taken keep 
Up-on a thing, ne seen it parfitly. 
Til that he be adawed verraily; 2400 

Right so a man, that longe hath blind 

y-be, 
Ne may nat sodeynly so wel y-see. 
First whan his sighte is newe come 

ageyn. 
As he that hath a day or two y-seyn. 2404 
Til that your sighte y-satled be a whyle, 
Ther may ful many a sighte yow bigyle. 
Beth war, I prey yow; for, by hevene 

king, 
Ful many a man weneth to seen a thing, 
And it is al another than it semeth. 
He that misconceyveth, he misdemeth.' 
And with that word she leep doun fro 

the tree. 241 1 

This lanuarie, who is glad but he? 
He kisseth hir, and clippeth hir ful ofte. 
And on hir wombe he stroketh hir ful 

softe, 2414 

And to his palays hooni he hath hir lad. 
Now, gode men, I pray yow to be glad. 
Thus endeth heer my tale of lanuarie; 
God blesse us and his moder Seinte 

Marie ! 
hantes Tale of lanuarie. 



2419-2440. I-35-] 



F. THE SQUIERES TALE. 



219 



EPILOGUE TO THE MARCHANTES TALE. 



* Ey ! goddes mercy ! ' seyde our Hoste 

tho, 
* Now swich a wyf I pray god kepe me 

fro ! 2420 

Lo, whiche sleightes and subtilitees 
In wommen been ! for ay as bisy as bees 
Ben they, us sely men for to deceyve, 
And from a sothe ever wol they weyve; 
By this Marchauntes Tale it preveth 

weel. 2425 

But doutelees, as trewe as any steel 
I have a wyf, though that she povre be; 
But of hir tonge a labbing shrewe is she. 
And yet she hath an heap of vyces mo; 



Ther-of no fors, lat alle swiche thinges 
go. 2430 

But, wite ye what? in conseil be it seyd, 
Me revveth sore I am un-to hir teyd. 
P'or, and I sholde rekenen every vyce 
Which that she hath, y-wis, I were to 
nyce, 2434 

And cause why; it sholde reported be 
And told to hir of somme of this meynee; 
Of whom, it nedeth nat for to declare. 
Sin wommen connen outen swich chaf- 

fare; 
And eek my wit sufifyseth nat ther-to 
To tellen al; wherfor my tale is do.' 2440 



GROUP F. 



THE SQUIERES TALE. 



[The Squire's Prologue.] 

' Squier, com neer, if it your wille be, 
And sey somwhat of love; for, certes, ye 
Connen ther-on as muche as any man.' 
*Nay, sir,' quod he, ' but I wol seye as I 

can 
With hertly wille; for I wol nat rebelle 5 
Agayn your lust; a tale wol I telle. 
Have me excused if I speke amis. 
My wil is good ; and lo, my tale is this. 

Hei-e higinneth the Squier es Tale. 

At Sarray, in the land of Tartarye, 
Ther dwelte a king, that werreyed 

Russye, 10 

Thurgh which ther deyde many a doughty 

man. 
This noble king was cleped Cambinskan, 
Which in his tyme was of so greet renoun 
That ther nas no-wher in no regioun 
So excellent a lord in alle thing; 15 

Him lakked noght that longeth to a 

king. 



As of the secte of which that he was 

born 
He kepte his lay, to which that he was 

sworn ; 
And ther-to he was hardy, wys, and 

riche. 
And pietous and lust, alwey y-liche. 20 
Sooth of his word, benigne and honur- 

able. 
Of his corage as any centre stable; 
Yong, fresh, and strong, in armes desir- 
ous 
As any bacheler of al his hous. 
A fair persone he was and fortunat, 25 
And kepte alwey so wel royal estat. 
That ther was nowher swich another 

man. 
This noble king, this Tartre Cambinskan 
Hadde two sones on Elpheta his wyf, 
Of whiche the eldeste highte Algarsyf, 30 
That other sone was cleped Cambalo. 
A doghter hadde this worthy king also, 
That yongest was, and highte Canacee. 
Bi;t for to telle yow al hir beautee, 34 
It lyth nat in my tonge, nin my connirg; 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[36-117- 



I dar nat undertake so heigh a thing. 
Myn English eek is insufficient; 
It moste been a rethor excellent, 
That coude his colours longing for that 

art, 
If he sholde hir discryven every part. 40 
I am non swich, I moot speke as I can. 
And so bifel that, whan this Cam- 

binskan 
Hath twenty winter born his diademe. 
As he was wont fro yeer to yeer, I deme. 
He leet the feste of his nativitee 45 

Don cryen thurghout Sarray his citee, 
The last Idus of March, after the yeer. 
Phebus the sonne ful loly was and cleer; 
For he was neigh his exaltacioun 
In Martes face, and in his mansioun 50 
In aries, the colerik hote signe. 
Ful lusty was the weder and benigne, 
P"or whiche the foules, agayn the sonne 

shene. 
What for the seson and the yonge grene, 
Ful loude songen hir affecciouns; 55 

Him semed han geten hem protecciouns 
Agayn the swerd of winter kene and 

cold. 
This Cambinskan, of which I have yow 

told, 
In royal vestiment sit on his deys, 
With diademe, ful heighe in his paleys, 60 
And halt his feste, so solempne and so 

riche 
That in this world ne was ther noon it 

liche. 
Of which if I shal tellen al tharray, 
Than wolde it occupye a someres day; 
And eek it nedeth nat for to devyse 6 
At every cours the ordrc of hir servyse. 
I wol nat tellen of hir strange sewes, 
Ne of hir swannes, ne of hir heronsewes. 
Eek in that lond, as tellen knightes olde, 
Ther is som mete that is ful deyntee 

holde, 70 

That in this lond men recche of it but 

smal; 
Ther nis no man that may reporten al. 
I wol nat tarien yow, for it is pryme, 
And for it is no fruit but los of tyme; 
Un-to my firste I wol have my recours. 75 
And so bifel that, after the thridde 

cours, 
Whyl that this king sit thus in his no- 

bleye, 



Herkninge his minstralles hir thinges 

pleye 
Biforn him at the bord deliciously, 
In at the halle-dore al sodeynly 80 

Ther cam a knight up-on a stede of 

bras, 
And in his hand a brood mirour of glas. 
Upon his thombe he hadde of gold a 

ring, 
And by his syde a naked swerd hanging; 
And up he rydeth to the heighe bord. 85 
In al the halle ne was ther spoke a word 
For merveille of this knight; him to bi- 

holde 
Ful bisily ther wayten yonge and olde. 
This strange knight, that cam thus 

sodeynly, 
Al armed save his heed ful richely, 90 
Salueth king and queen, and lordes alle, 
By ordre, as they seten in the halle. 
With so heigh reverence and obeisaunce 
As wel in speche as in contenaunce. 
That Gavvain, with his olde curteisye, 95 
Though he were come ageyn out of 

P'airye, 
Ne coude him nat amende with a word. 
And after this, biforn the heighe bord, 
He with a manly voys seith his message. 
After the forme used in his langage, 100 
With-outen vyce of sillable or of lettre; 
And, for his tale sholde seme the bettre, 
Accordant to his wordes was his chere, 
As techeth art of speche hem that it 

lere; 
Al-be-it that I can nat soune his 

style, 105 

Ne can nat climben over so heigh a 

style, 
Yet seye I this, as to commune entente, 
Thus muche amounteth al that ever he 

mente. 
If it so be that I have it in minde. 

He seyde, ' the king of Araijie and of 

Inde, no 

My lige lord, on this solempne day 
Salueth yow as he best can and may, 
And sendeth yow, in honour of your 

feste, 
By me, that am al redy at your heste, 
This stede of bras, that esily and wel 1 15 
Can, in the space of o day naturel. 
This is to seyn, in foure and twenty 

houres, 



[8-I9I.] 



F. THE SQUIERES TALE. 



Wher-so yow list, in droghte or elles 

shoures, 
Beren your body in-to every place 
To which your herte wilneth for to 

pace I 20 

With-outen wem of yow, thurgh foul or 

fair; 
Or, if yow list to fleen as hye in the air 
As doth an egle, whan him list to sore, 
This same stede shal here yow ever-more 
With-outen harm, til ye be ther yow 

leste, 125 

Though that ye slepen on his bak or 

reste; 
And turne ayeyn, with wrything of a pin. 
He that it wroghte coude ful many a gin; 
He wayted many a constellacioun 
Er he had doon this operacioun; 130 

And knew ful many a seel and many a 

bond. 
This mirour eek, that I have in myn 

hond, 
Hath swich a might, that men may in it 

see 
Whan ther shal fallen any adversitee 
Un-to your regne or to your-self also; 135 
And openly who is your freend or foo. 
And over al this, if any lady bright 
Hath set hir herte on any maner wight. 
If he be fals, she shal his treson see. 
His newe love and al his subtiltee 140 
So openly, that ther shal no-thing hyde. 
Wherfor, ageyn this lusty someres tyde, 
This mirour and this ring, that ye may 

see. 
He hath sent to my lady Canacee, 
Your excellente doghter that is here. 145 

The vertu of the ring, if ye wol here, 
Is this; that, if hir lust it for to were 
Up-on hir thombe, or in hir purs it bere, 
Ther is no foul that fleeth under the 

hevene 
That she ne shal wel understonde his 

stevene, 150 

And knowe his mening openly and pleyn. 
And answere him in his langage ageyn. 
And every gras that groweth up-on rote 
She shal eek knowe, and whom it wol do 

bote, 
Al be his woundes never so depe and 

wyde. 155 

This naked swerd, that hangeth by my 

syde, 



Swich vertu hath, that what man so ye 

smyte, 
Thurgh-out his armure it wol kerve and 

byte. 
Were it as thikke as is a branched 00k; 
And what man that is wounded with the 

strook 160 

Shal never be hool til that yow list, 

of grace. 
To stroke him with the platte in thilke 

place 
Ther he is hurt: this is as muche to 

seyn. 
Ye mote with the platte swerd ageyn 
Stroke him in the wounde, and it wol 

close; 165 

This is a verray sooth, with-outen glose, 
It failleth nat whyl it is in your hold.' 
And whan this knight hath thus his 

tale told. 
He rydeth out of halle, and doun he 

lighte. 
His stede, which that shoon as sonne 

brighte, 170 

Stant in the court, as stille as any stoon. 
This knight is to his chambre lad anon, 
And is unarmed and to mete y-set. 

The presentes ben ful royally y-fet, 
This is to seyn, the swerd and the 

mirour, 175 

And born anon in-to the heighe tour 
With certeine officers ordeyned therfore; 
And un-to Canacee this ring was bore 
Solempnely, ther she sit at the table. 
But sikerly, with-outen any fable, 1 80 
The hors of bras, that may nat be re- 
mewed, 
It stant as it were to the ground y-glewed. 
Ther may no man out of the place it 

dryve 
For noon engyn of windas or polyve; 
And cause why, for they can nat the 

craft. 185 

And therefore in the place they ban it 

laft 
Til that the knight hath taught hem the 

manere 
To voyden him, as ye shal after here. 
Greet was the prees that swarmeth to 

and fro, 189 

To gauren on this hors that stondeth so; 
For it so heigh was, and so brood and 

long. 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[192-268. 



So wel proporcioned for to ben strong, 
Right as it were a stede of Lumbardye; 
Ther-with so horsly, and so quik of ye 
As it a gentil Poileys courser were. 195 
For certes, fro his tayl un-to his ere, 
Nature ne art ne coude him nat amende 
In no degree, as al the peple wende. 
But evermore hir moste wonder was, 
How that it coude goon, and was of 

bras ; 200 

It was of Fairye, as the peple semed. 
Diverse folk diversely they denied; 
As many hedes, as many wittes ther 

been. 
They murmureden as dooth a swarm of 

been, 
And maden skiles after hir fantasyes, 205 
Rehersinge of thise olde poetryes, 
And seyden, it was lyk the Pegasee, 
The hors that hadde winges for to flee; 
Or elles it was the Grekes hors Synon, 
That broghte Troye to destruccion, 210 
As men may in thise olde gestes rede. 
* Myn herte,' quod oon, * is evermore in 

drede; 
I trowe som men of amies been ther- 

inne. 
That shapen hem this citee for to winne. 
It were right good that al swich thing 

were knowe.' 215 

Another rowned to his felawe lowe. 
And seyde, ' he lyeth, it is rather lyk 
An apparence y-niaad by som niagyk, 
As logelours pleyen at thise festes grete.' 
Of sondry doutes thus they langle and 

trete, 220 

As lewed peple demeth comunly 
Of thinges that ben maad more subtilly 
Than they can in her lewednes compre- 

hende; 
They demen gladly to the badder ende. 
And somme of hem wondred on the 

mirour, 225 

That born was up in-to the maister-tour. 
How men mighte in it swiche thinges 

see. 
Another answerde, and seyde it mighte 

wel be 
Naturelly, by composiciouns 
Of angles and of slye reflexiouns, 230 
And seyden, that in Rome was swich oon. 
They speken of Alocen and Vitulon, 
And Aristotle, that writeu in hir lyvts 



Of queynte mirours and of prospectyves, 
As knowen they that han hir bokes . 

herd. 235 , 

And othere folk han wondred on the ; 

swerd 
That wolde percen thurgh-out every- ■ 

thing; 
And fille in speche of Thelophus the 

king, 
And of Achilles with his queynte spere. 
For he coude with it bothe hele and , 

dere, 240 i 

Right in swich wyse as men may with 1 

the swerd 
Of which right now ye han your-selven 

herd. 
They speken of sondry harding of metal, 
And speke of medicynes ther-with-al, 
And how, andwhanne, it sholde y-harded 

be; 245 : 

Which is unknowe algates unto me. 
Tho speke they of Canacees ring. 
And seyden alle, that swich a wonder 

thing 
Of craft of ringes herde they never non. 
Save that he, Moyses, and king Salo- 
mon 250 
Hadde a name of konning in swich art. 
Thus seyn the peple, and drawen hem 

apart. 
But nathelees, somme seyden that it was 
Wonder to maken of fern-asshen glas, 
And yet nis glas nat lyk asshen of 

fern; 255 

But for they han y-knowen it so fern, 
Therfore cesseth her Jangling and her 

wonder. 
As sore wondren somme on cause of 

thonder, 
On ebbe, on flood, on gossomer, and on 

mist. 
And alle thing, til that the cause is ^ 

wist. 260 

Thus langle they and demen and devyse, 
Til that the king gan fro the bord aryse. 
Phebus hath laft the angle meridional, 
And yet ascending was the beest royal. 
The gentil Leon, with his Aldiaan 265 
Whan that this Tartre king, this Cambin|~ 

skan, 
Roos fro his bord, ther that he sat ft 

hye. 
Toforn him gooth the loude minstralcyeJ 



269-346.] 



F. THE SQUIERES TALE. 



223 



Til he cam to his chambre of parements, 
Ther as they sownen diverse instruments, 
That it is lyk an heven for to here. 271 
Now dauncen lusty Venus children dere, 
For in the Fish hir lady sat ful hye, 
And loketh on hem with a freendly ye. 
This noble king is set up in his 

trone. 275 

This strange knight is fet to him ful sone, 
And on the daunce he gooth with Cana- 

cee. 
Heer is the revel and the lolitee 
That is nat able a dul man to devyse. 
He moste han knowen love and his ser- 

vyse, 280 

And been a festlich man as fresh as May, 
That sholde yow devysen swich array. 
Who coude telle yow the forme of 

daunces, 
So uncouthe and so fresshe contenaunces, 
Swich subtil loking and dissimulinges 285 
For drede of lalouse mennes aperceyv- 

inges? 
No man but Launcelot, and he is deed. 
Therefor I passe of al this lustiheed ; 
I seye na-more, but in this lolynesse 
I lete hem, til men to the soper dresse. 290 
The styward bit the spyces for to hye, 
And eek the wyn, in al this melodye. 
The usshers and the squyers ben y-goon; 
The spyces and the wyn is come anoon. 
They ete and drinke; and whan this 

hadde an ende, 295 

Un-to the temple, as reson was, they 

wende. 
The service doon, they soupen al by 

day. 
What nedeth yow rehercen hir array? 
Ech man wot wel, that at a kinges feeste 
Hath plentee, to the moste and to the 

leeste, - 300 

And deyntees mo than been in my know- 
ing. 
At-after soper gooth this noble king 
To seen this hors of bras, with al the 

route 
Of lordes and of ladyes him aboute. 
Swich wondring was ther on this hors 

of bras 305 

That, sin the grete sege of Troye was, 
Ther-as men wondreden on an hors also, 
Ne was ther swich a wondring as was tho. 
But fynally the king axeth this knight 



The vertu of this courser and the might, 
And preyede him to telle his gover- 

naunce. 311 

This hors anoon bigan to trippe and 

daunce. 
Whan that this knight leyde hand up-on 

his reyne, 
And seyde, ' sir, ther is na-more to seyne, 
But, whan yow list to ryden any- 
where, 315 
Ye moten trille a pin, stant in his ere, 
Which I shall telle yow bitwix vs two. 
Ye mote nempne him to what place also 
Or to what contree that yow list to ryde. 
And whan ye come ther as yow list 

abyde, 320 

Bidde him descende, and trille another 

pin. 
For ther-in lyth the effect of al the gin, 
And he wol doun descende and doon 

your wille; 
And in that place he wol abyde stille, 
Though al the world the contrarie hadde 

y-swore ; 325 

He shal nat thennes ben y-drawe ne 

y-bore. 
Or, if yow Hste bidde him thennes goon, 
Trille this pin, and he wul vanishe anoon 
Out of the sighte of every maner wight. 
And come agayn, be it by day or night, 330 
When that yow list to clepen him ageyn 
In swich a gyse as I shal to yow seyn 
Bitwixe yow and me, and that ful sone. 
Ryde whan yow list, ther is na-more to 

done.' 
Enformed whan the king was of that 

knight, 335 

And hath conceyved in his wit aright 
The maner and the forme of al this thing, 
Thus glad and blythe, this noble doughty 

king 
Repeireth to his revel as biforn. 
The brydel is un-to the tour y-born, 340 
And kept among his Jewels leve and dere. 
The hors vanisshed, I noot in what man- 

ere, 
Out of hir sighte; ye gete na-more of me. 
But this I lete in lust and lolitee 
This Cambynskan his lordes festeyinge, 
Til wel ny the day bigan to springe. 346 

Explicit pri77ia pars. Sequitur pars 
secunda. 



224 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[347-428. 



The norice of digestioun, the slepe, 
Gan on hem winke, and bad hem taken 

kepe, 
That muchel drink and labour wolde han 

reste; 
And with a galping mouth hem alle he 



keste. 



350 



And seyde, ' it was tyme to lye adoun, 
For blood was in his dominacioun; 
Cherissheth blood, natures freend,' quod 

he. 
They thanken him galpinge, by two, by 

three, 
And every wight gan drawe him to his 

reste, 355 

As slepe hem bad; they toke it for the 

beste. 
Hir drenies shul nat been y-told for me; 
Ful were hir hedes of fumositee, 
That causeth dreem, of which ther nis no 

charge. 359 

They slepcn til that it was pryme large, 
The moste part, but it were Canacee; 
She was ful niesurable, as wommen be. 
For of hir fader hadde she take leve 
To gon to reste, sone after it was eve; 
Hir liste nat appalled for to be, 365 

Nor on the morwe unfestlich for to see; 
And slepte hir lirste sleep, and thanne 

awook. 
For swich a loye she in hir herte took 
Both of hir queynte ring and hir mirour, 
That twenty tyme she changed hir col- 
our; 370 
And in hir slepe, right for impressioun 
Of hir mirour, she hadde a visioun. 
Wherfore, er that the sonne gan up glyde, 
She cleped on hir niaistresse hir bisyde. 
And seyde, that hir liste for to ryse. 375 
Thise olde wommen that been gladly 

wyse, 
As is hir maistresse, answerde hir anoon. 
And seyde, ' madame, whider wil ye goon 
Thus erly? for the folk ben alle on reste.' 
* I wol,' quod she, ' aryse, for me leste 380 
No lenger for to slepe, and walke aboute.' 
Hir maistresse clepeth wommen a gret 

route. 
And up they rysen, wel a ten or twelve; 
Up ryseth fresshe Canacee hir-selve, 
As rody and bright as dooth the yonge 

Sonne, 385 

That in the Ram is four degrees up-ronne; 



Noon hyer was he, wi.a.i siic icdy was; 
And forth she walketh esily a pas. 
Arrayed after the lusty seson sote 
Lightly, for to pleye and walke on 

fote ; 390 

Nat but with fyve or six of hir meynee; 
And in a trench, forth in the park, goth 

she. 
The vapour, which that fro the erthe glood, 
Made the sonne to seme rody and brood; 
But nathelees, it was so fair a sighte 395 
That it made alle hir hertes for to lighte, 
What for the seson and the morweninge, 
And for the foules that she herde singe; 
For right anon she wiste what they mente 
Right by hir song, and knew al hir en- 
tente. 400 
The knotte, why that every tale is told, 
If it be taried til that lust be cold 
Of hem that han it after herkned yore. 
The savour passeth ever lenger the more, 
For fulsomnesse of his prolixitee. 405 
Anil by the same reson thinketh me, 
I sholde to the knotte condescende. 
And maken of hir walking sone an ende. 
Amitlde a tree fordrye, as whyt as chalk. 
As Canacee was pleying in hir walk, 410 
Ther sat a faucon over hir heed ful hye. 
That with a pitous voys so gan to crye 
That all the wode resouned of hir cry. 
Y-beten hath she hir-self so pitously 
With bothe hir winges, til the rede 

blood 415 

Ran endelong the tree ther-as she stood. 
And ever in oon she cryde alwey and 

shrighte, 
And with hir beek hir-selven so she 

prighte. 
That ther nis tygre, ne noon so cruel 

beste. 
That dwelleth either in wode or in 

foreste 420 

That nolde han w^ept, if that he wepe 

coude, 
For sorwe of hir, she shrighte alwey so 

loude. 
For ther nas never yet no man on lyve — 
If that I coude a faucon wel discryve — 
That herde of swich another of fairnesse. 
As wel of plumage as of gentillesse 426 
Of shap, and al that mighte y-rekened 

be. 
A faucon peregryn than semed she 



429-510.] 



F. THE SQUIERES TALE. 



225 



Of fremrle land; and evermore, as she 

stood, 
She svvowneth now and now for lakke of 

blood, 430 

Til wel neigh is she fallen fro the tree. 
This faire kinges doghter, Canacee, 
That on hir finger bar the queynte ring, 
Thurgh which she understood wel every 

thing 
That any foul may in his ledene seyn, 435 
And coude answere him in his ledene 

ageyn, 
Hath understonde what this faucon 

seyde. 
And wel neigh for the rewthe almost 

she deyde. 
And to the tree she gooth ful hastily, 
And on this faucon loketh pitously, 440 
And heeld hir lappe al^rood, for wel 

she wiste 
The faucon moste fallen fro the twiste. 
When that it swowned next, for lakke of 

blood. 
A longe while to wayten hir she stood 
Till atte laste she spak in this manere 445 
Un-to the hauk, as ye shul after here. 

' What is the cause, if it be for to telle, 
That ye be in this furial pyne of helle?' 
Quod Canacee un-to this hauk above. 
' Is this for sorwe of deeth or los of 

love? 450 

For, as I trowe, thise ben causes two 
That causen moost a gentil herte wo; 
Of other harm it nedeth nat to speke. 
For ye your-self upon your-self yow 

wreke, 
■Which proveth wel, that either love or 

drede 455 

Mot been encheson of your cruel dede. 
Sin that I see non other wight yow 

chace. 
For love of god, as dooth your-selven 

grace 
Or what may ben your help; for west 

nor eest 459 

Ne sey I never er now no brid ne beest 
That ferde with him-self so pitously. 
Ye slee me with your sorwe, verraily; 
I have of yow so gret compassioun. 
For goddes love, com fro the tree adoun; 
And, as I am a kinges doghter trewe, 465 
If that I verraily the cause knewe 
Of your disese, if it lay in my might. 



I wolde amende it, er that it were night, 
As vvisly helpe me gret god of kinde ! 
And herbes shal I right y-nowe y-finde 
To hele with your hurtes hastily.' 471 
Tho shrighte this faucon more pitously 
Than ever she dide, and fil to grounde 

anoon. 
And lyth aswowne, deed, and lyk a 

stoon. 
Til Canacee hath in hir lappe hir take 475 
Un-to the tyme she gan of swough 

awake. 
And, after that she of hir swough gan 

breyde. 
Right in hir haukes ledene thus she 

seyde : — 
'That pitee renneth sone in gentil herte, 
P'eling his similitude in peynes smerte. 
Is preved al-day, as men may it see, 481 
As wel by werk as by auctoritee; 
For gentil herte kythelh gentillesse. 
I see wel, that ye han of my distresse 
Compassioun, my faire Canace' , 485 

Of verray wommanly benignitee 
That nature in your principles hath set. 
But for non hope for to fare the bet. 
But for to obeye un-to your herte free. 
And for to maken other be war by me, 490 
As by the whelp chasted is the leoun, 
Right for that cause and that conclu- 

sioun, 
Whyl that I have a leyser and a space, 
Myn harm I wol confessen, er I pace.' 
And ever, whyl that oon hir sorwe tolde, 
That other weep, as she to water wolde, 
Til that the faucon bad hir to be stille; 
And, with a syk, right thus she seyde 

hir wille. 
' Ther I was bred (alias ! that harde 

day!) 499 

And fostred in a roche of marbul gray 
So tendrely, that nothing eyled me, 
I niste nat what was adversitee. 
Til I coude flee ful hye under the sky. 
Tho dwelte a tercelet me faste by. 
That semed welle of alle gentillesse; 505 
Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse, 
It was so wrapped under humble chere. 
And under hewe of trouthe in swich 

manere. 
Under plesance, and under bisy peyne, 
That no wight coude han wend he coude 

feyne, 510 



226 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[511-595. 



So depe in greyn he dyed his coloures. 
Right as a serpent hit him under floures 
Til he may seen his tyme for to byte, 
Right so this god of love, this ypocryte, 
Doth so his cerimonies and obeisaunces, 
And kepeth in semblant alle his obser- 
vances 5^^ 
Than sowneth in-to gentillesse of love. 
As in a toumbe is al the faire above, 
And under is the corps, swich as ye woot, 
Svi'ich was this ypocryte, bothe cold and 

hoot, 520 

And in this wyse he served his entente, 
That (save the feend) non wiste what he 

mente. 
Til he so longe had wopen and com- 

pleyned, 
And many a yeer his service to me 

feyned, 
Til that myn herte, to pitous and to nyce, 
Al innocent of his crouned malice, 526 
For-fered of his deeth, as thoughte me, 
Upon his ^thes and his seuretee, 
Graunted him love, on this condicioun. 
That evermore myn honour and renoun 
Were saved, bothe privee and apert; 531 
This is to seyn, that, after his desert, 
I yaf him al myn herte and al my 

thoght — 
God woot and he, that otherwyse 

noght — 
And took his herte in chaunge for myn 

for ay. 535 

But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many a 

day, 
" A trew wight and a theef thenken nat 

oon." 
And, whan he saugh the thing so fer 

y-goon, 
That I had graunted him fully my love. 
In swich a gyse as I have seyd above, 540 
And yeven him my trewe herte, as free 
As he swoor he his herte yaf to me; 
Anon this tygre, ful of doublenesse, 
Fil on his knees with so devout hum- 

blesse, 
With so heigh reverence, and, as by his 

chere, 545 

So lyk a gentil lovere of manere, 
So ravisshed, as it semed, for the loye. 
That never lason, ne Parys of Troye, 
lason? certes, ne non other man. 
Sin Lameth was, that alder first bigan 550 



To loven two, as writen folk biforn, 
Ne never, sin the tirste man was born, 
Ne coude man, by twenty thousand part, 
Countrefete the sophimes of his art; 
Ne were worthy unbokele his galoche, 555 
Ther doublenesse or feyning sholde ap- 

proche, 
Ne so coude thanke a wight as he did me ! 
His maner was an heven for to see 
Til any womman,were she never so wys; 
So peynted he and kembde at point-devys 
As wel his wordes as his contenaunce. 561 
And I so lovede him for his obeisaunce, 
And for the trouthe I demed in his herte, 
That, if so were that any thing him 

smerte, 5^4 

Al were it never so lyte, and I it wiste, 
Me thoughte, I felte deeth myn herte 

twiste. 
And shortly, so ferforth this thing is went, 
That my wil was his willes instrument; 
This is to seyn, my wil obeyed his wil 
In alle thing, as fer as reson fil, 570 

Keping the boundes of my worship ever. 
Ne never hadde I thing so leef, ne lever, 
As him, god woot ! ne never shal na-mo. 
This lasteth lenger than a yeer or two. 
That I supposed of him noght but good. 
But fynally, thus atte laste it stood, 576 
That fortune wolde that he moste twinne 
Out of that place which that I was inne. 
Wher me was wo, that is no questioun ; 
I can nat make of it discripcioun; 580 
For o thing dar I tellen boldely, 
I knowe what is the peyne of deth ther-i 

by; .i 

Swich harm I felte for he ne mighte bi-jl 

leve. I 

So on a day of me he took his leve, 5845 
So sorwefuUy eek, that I wende verraily j 
That he had felt as muche harm as I, ,| 
Whan that I herde him speke, and sauglj 

his hewe. j 

But nathelees, I thoughte he was scj 

trewe. 
And eek that he repaire sholde ageyn 
With-inne a litel whyle, sooth to seyn; 
And reson wolde eek that he moste go 59: 
For his honour, as ofte it happeth so, 
That I made vertu of necessitee, 
And took it wel, sin that it moste be. 
As I best mighte, I hidde fro him m 

sorwe, 59 



596-668.] 



F. THE SQUIERES TALE. 



227 



And took him by the hond, seint lohn to 

borwe, 
And seyde him thus: **lo, I am youres 

al; 
Beth swich as I to yow have been, and 

shal." 
What he answerde, it nedeth noght re- 

herce, 
Who can sey bet than he, who can do 

werse ? 600 

Whan he hath al wel seyd, thanne hath 

he doon. 
"Therefor bihoveth him a ful long spoon 
That shal ete with a feend," thus herde I 

seye. 
So atte laste he moste forth his weye, 
And forth he fleeth, til he cam ther him 

leste. 605 

Whan it cam him to purpos for to reste, 
I trowe he hadde thilke text in minde, 
That " alle thing, repeiring to his kinde, 
Gladeth him-self; thus seyn men, as I 

gesse; 
Men loven of propre kinde newfangel- 

nesse, 610 

As briddes doon that men in cages fede. 
For though thou night and day take of 

hem hede. 
And strawe hir cage faire and softe as 

silk. 
And yeve hem sugre. hony, breed and 

milk, 614 

Yet right anon, as that his dore is uppe. 
He with his feet wol spurne adoun his 

cuppe, 
And to the wode he wol and wormes ete; 
So newefangel been they of hir mete, 
And loven novelryes of propre kinde; 
No gentillesse of blood [ne] may hem 

binde, 620 

So ferde this tercelet, alias the day ! 
Though he were gentil born, and fresh 

and gay, 
And goodly for to seen, and humble and 

free. 
He saugh up-on a tyme a kyte flee, 
And sodeynly he loved this kyte so, 625 
That al his love is clene fro me ago. 
And hath his trouthe falsed in thiswyse; 
Thus hath the kyte my love in hir servyse, 
And I am lorn with-outen remedye ! ' 
And with that word this faucon gan to 

crye, 630 



And swowned eft in Canacces barme. 
Greet was the sorvve, for the haukes 

harme, 
That Canacee and alle hir wommen 

made; 
They niste how they mighte the faucon 

glade. 634 

But Canacee horn bereth hir in hir lappe, 
And softely in piastres gan hir wrappe, 
Ther as she with hir beek had hurt hir- 

selve. 
Now can nat Canacee but herbes delve 
Out of the grounde, and make salves 

newe 639 

Of herbes precious, and fyne of hewe, 
To helen with this hauk; fro day to 

night 
She dooth hir bisinesse and al hir might. 
And by hir beddes heed she made a 

mewe, 
And covered it with veluettes blewe, 
In signe of trouthe that is in wommen 

sene. 645 

And al with-oute, the mewe is peynted 

grene. 
In which were peynted alle thise false 

foules. 
As beth thise tidifs, tercelets, and oules, 
Right for despyt were peynted hem 

bisyde, 649 

And pyes, on hem for to crye and chyde. 
Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk keping; 
I wol na-more as now speke of hir ring. 
Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn 
How that this faucon gat hir love ageyn 
Repentant, as the storie telleth us, 655 
By mediacioun of Cambalus, 
The kinges sone, of whiche I yow tolde. 
But hennes-forth I wol my proces holde 
To speke of aventures and of batailles. 
That never yet was herd so grete mer- 

vailles. 660 

First wol I telle yow of Cambinskan, 
That in his tyme many a citee wan; 
And after wol I speke of Algarsyf, 
How that he wan Theodora to his wyf. 
For whom ful ofte in greet peril he 

was, 665 

Ne hadde he ben holpen by the stede of 

bras; 
And after wol I speke of Cambalo, 
That faugh t in listes with the bretheren 

two 



228 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[669-728. 



For Canacee, er that he mighte hir winne. 
And ther I lefte I wol ageyn biginne. 670 

Explicit secunda pars. Incipit pars 
tercia. 

Appollo whitleth up his char so hye, 
Til that the god Mercurius hous the 
slye — 



Here folwen the tvordes of the Frankelin 

to the Squier, and the wordes of the 

Host to the Frankelin. 

' In feith, Squier, thou hast thee wel 

y-quit, 
And gentilly I preise wel thy wit,' 
Quod the Frankeleyn, * considering thy 

youthe, 675 

So feehngly thou spekest, sir, I allow 

the! 
As to my doom, there is non that is here. 
Of eloquence that shal be thy pere. 
If that thou live; god yeve thee good 

chaunce, 679 

And in vertu sende thee continuaunce ! 
For of thy speche I have greet deyntee. 
I have a sone, and, by the Trinitee, 
I hadde lever than twenty pound worth 

lond, 
Though it right now were fallen in myn 

hond, 



He were a man of swich discrecioun 685 

As that ye been ! fy on possessioun 

But-if a man be vertuous with-al. 

I have my sone snibbed, and yet shal, 

For he to vertu listeth nat entende; 

But for to pleye at dees, and to de- 

spende, 690 

And lese al that he hath, is his usage. 
And he hath lever talken with a page 
Than to comune with any gentil wight 
Ther he mighte lerne gentillesse aright.' 
' Straw for your gentillesse,' quod our 

host; 695 

* What, frankeleyn ? pardee, sir, wel 

thou wost 
That eche of yow mot tellen atte leste 
A tale or two, or breken his biheste.' 
*That knowe I wel, sir,' quod the 
frankeleyn ; 

* I prey yow, haveth me nat in desdeyn 
Though to this man I speke a word or 

two.' 701 

' Telle on thy tale with-outen wordes 

mo,' 
' Gladly, sir host,' quod he, ' I wol 

obeye 
Un-to your wil; now herkneth what 1 

seye, 
I wol yow nat contrarien in no wyse 705 
As fer as that my wittes wol suffyse; 
I prey to god that it may plesen yow, 
Than woot I wel that it is good y-now.' 



[ The Frankleyn's Prologue follows immediately^ 



THE FRANKLIN'S PROLOGUE. 



The Prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale. 

Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes 
Of diverse aventures maden layes, 710 
Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge; 
Which layes with hir instruments they 

songe, 
Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce; 
And oon of hem have I in remem- 

braunce, 
Which I shal seyn with good wil as I 

can. 715 

But, sires, by-cause I am a burel man, 
At my biginning first I yow biseche 



Have me excused of my rude speche; 

I lerned never rethoryk certeyn; 

Thing that I speke, it moot be bare and 

pleyn. 720 

I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso, 
Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cithero. 
Colours ne knowe I none, with-outen 

drede. 
But swiche colours as growen in the 

mede, 
Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. 725 ■ 
Colours of rethoryk ben me to queynte; 
My spirit feleth noght of swich matere. 
But if yow list, my tale shul ye here. 



729-794-] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



229 



THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



H^re biginneth the Frankeleyns Tale. 

In Arniorik, that called is Britayne, 
Ther was a knight that loved and dide his 

payne 730 

To serve a lady in his beste wyse; 
And many a labour, many a greet em- 

pryse 
He for his lady wroghte, er she were 

vi'onne. 
For she was oon, the faireste under 

Sonne, 
And eek therto come of so heigh kin- 
rede, _ 735 
That wel unnethes dorste this knight, for 

drede. 
Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his dis- 

tresse. 
But atte laste, she, for his worthinesse. 
And namely for his meke obeysaunce. 
Hath swich a pitee caught of his pen- 

aunce, 740 

That prively she fil of his accord 
To take him for hir housbonde and hir 

lord, 
Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir 

wyves ; 
And for to lede the more in blisse hir 

lyves. 
Of his free wil he swoor hir as a 

knight, 745 

That never in al his lyf he, day ne night, 
Ne sholde up-on him take no maistrye 
Agayn hir wil, ne kythe hir lalousye, 
But hir obeye, and folwe hir wil in al 
As any lovere to his lady shal; 750 

Save that the name of soveraynetee, 
That wolde he have for shame of his de- 
gree. 
She thanked him, and with ful greet 

humblesse 
She seyde, ' sire, sith of your gentillesse 
Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, 755 
Ne wolde never god bitwixe us tweyne, 
As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf. 
Sir, I wol be your humble trewe wyf. 
Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte 

breste.' 



Thus been they bothe in quiete and in 

reste. 760 

For o thing, sires, saufly dar I seye. 
That frendes everich other moot obeye, 
If they wol longe holden companye. 
Love wol nat ben constreyned by mais- 
trye; _ 
Whan maistrie comth, the god of love 

anon 765 

Beteth hise winges, and farewel ! he is 

gon ! ^ 
Love is a thing as any spirit free ; 
Wommen of kinde desirtn liliertee, 
And nat to ben constreyned as a thral; 
And so don men, if I soth seyen shal. 770 
Loke who that is most pacient in love, 
He is at his avantage al above. 
Pacience is an heigh vertu certeyn; 
For it venquisseth, as thise clerk es seyn, 
Thinges that rigour sholde never at- 

teyne. 775 

For every word men may nat chyde or 

pleyne. 
Lerneth to suffre, or elles, so moot I 

goon, 
Ye shul it lerne, wher-so ye wole or 

noon. 
For in this world, certein, ther no wight is, 
That he ne dooth or seith som-tyrae 

amis. 780 

Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun, 
Wyn, wo, or chaunginge of complexioun 
Causeth ful ofte to doon amis or speken. 
On every wrong a man may nat be wreken; 
After the tyme, moste be temperaunce 785 
To every wight that can on governaunce. 
And therfore hath this wyse worthy knight, 
To live in ese, suffrance hir bihight, 
And she to him ful w isly gan to swere 
That never sholde ther be defaute in 

here. 790 

Heer may men seen an humble wys 

accord ; 
Thus hath she take hir servant and hir 

lord. 
Servant in love, and lord in mariage; 
Than was he bothe in lordship and ser- 

vage; 



2.30 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[795-871 



Servage? nay, but in lordshipe above, 
Sith he hath bothe his lady and his love; 
His lady, certes, and his wyf also, 
The which that lavve of love acordeth to. 
And whan he was in this prosperitee, 
Hoom with his wyf he gooth to his con- 
tree, 800 
Nat fer fro Penmark, ther his dwelling 

was, 
Wher'-as he liveth in blisse and in solas. 
Who coude telle, but he had wedded 

be. 
The loye, the ese, and the prosperitee 
That is bitwixe an housbonde and his 

wyf? 805 

A yeer and more lasted this blisful lyf, 
Til that the knight of which I speke of 

thus. 
That of Kayrrud was cleped Arveragus, 
Shoop hiin to goon, and dwelle a yeer or 

tweyne 
In Engelond, that cleped was eek Brit- 

eync, 810 

To seke in arnics worship and honour; 
For al his lust he sette in swich laljour; 
And dwelled ther two yeer, the book 

seith thus. 
Now wol I stinte of this Arveragus, 
And speken I wole of Dorigene his wyf. 
That loveth hir housbonde as hir hertcs 

lyf. 816 

For his absence wepeth she and syketh, 
As doon thise noble wyves whan hem 

lyketh. 
She moorneth, waketh, wayleth, fasteth, 

pleyneth; 
Desyr of his presence hir so distreyneth. 
That al this wyde world she sette at 

noght. 821 

Hir frendes, whiche that knewe hir hevy 

thoght, 
Conforten hir in al that ever they may; 
They prechen hir, they telle hir night 

and day, 824 

That causelees she sleeth hir-self, alias ! 
And every confort possible in this cas 
They doon to hir with al hir bisinesse, 
Al for to make hir leve hir hevinesse. 

By proces, as ye knowcn everichoon, 
Men may so longe graven in a stoon, 830 
Til sum figure ther-inne emprented be. 
So longe ban they conforted hir, til she 
Receyved hath, by hope and by resoun. 



The emprenting of hir consulacioun, 
Thurgh which hir grete sorvve gan 

asvvage; 835 

She may nat alwey duren in swich rage. 

And eek Arveragus, in al this care, 
Hath sent hir lettres hoom of his wel- 
fare. 
And that he wol come hastily agayn; 
Or elles hadde this sorwe hir herte slayn. 
Hir freendes sawe hir sorwe gan to 

slake, 841 

And preyede hir on knees, for goddes 

sake. 
To come and romcn hir in companye, 
Awey to dryve hir derke fantasye. 
And finally, she graunted that requeste; 
I'or wel she saugh that it was for the 

beste. 846 

Now stood hir castel faste by the see, 

And often with hir freendes walketh she 

Hir to disporte up-on the bank an heigh, 

Wher-as she many a ship and barge 

seigh 850 

Seilinge hir cours, wher-as hem liste go; 
But than was that a parcel of hir wo. 
For to hir-self ful ofte ' alias ! ' seith she, 
' Is ther no ship, of so manye as I see, 
Wol bringen horn my lord? than were 

myn herte 855 

Al warisshed of his bittre peynes smerte.' 

Another tyme ther vvoldc she sitte and 

thinke. 
And caste hir eyen dounward fro the 

brinke. 
But whan she saugh the grisly rokkes 

blake. 
For verray fere so wolde hir herte quake, 
That on hir feet she mighte hir noght 

sustene. 861 

Than wolde she sitte adoun upon the 

grene. 
And pitously in-to the see biholde. 
And seyn right thus, with sorweful sykes 

colde : 
* Eterne god, that thurgh thy purvey- 

aunce S65 

Ledest the world by certein governaunce, 
In ydel, as men seyn, ye no-thing make; 
But, lord, thise grisly feendly rokkes 

blake. 
That semen rather a foul confusioun 
Of werk than any fair creacioun 870 

Of swich a pardt wys god and a stable. 



872-942.] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



231 



Why han ye wroght this werk unresona- 

ble? 
For by this werk, south, north, ne west, 

ne eest, 
Ther nis y-fostred man, ne brid, ne 

beest; 
It dooth no good, to my wit, but anoy- 

eth. 875 

See ye nat, lord, how mankinde it de- 

stroyeth? 
An hundred thousand bodies of man- 
kinde 
Han rokkes slayn, al be they nat in 

minde, 
Which mankinde is so fair part of thy 

werk 
That thou it madest lyk to thyn owene 

merk. 880 

Than semed it ye hadde a greet chiertee 
Toward mankinde ; but how than may 

it be 
That ye swiche menes make it to de- 

stroyen, 
Whiche menes do no good, but ever 

anoyen ? 
I woot wel clerkes wol seyn, as hem 

leste, 885 

By arguments, that al is for the beste, 
Tho I ne can the causes nat y-knowe. 
But thilke god, that made wind to blowe. 
As kepe my lord ! this my conclusioun; 
To clerkes lete I al disputisoun. 890 

But wolde god that alle thise rokkes 

blake 
Were sonken in-to helle for his sake ! 
Thise rokkes sleen myn herte for the 

fere.' 
Thus wolde she seyn, with many a pitous 

tere. 
Hir freendes sawe that it was no dis:;;^ 

port 895^ 

To romen by the see, but disconfort; 
And shopen for to pleyen somwjier 

elles. '^ 

They leden hir by riveres and by welles, 
And eek in othere places delitables; 
They dauncen, and they pfeyen at ches 

and tables. 900 

So on a day, right in the morwe-tyde, 
Un-to a gardin that was ther bisyde. 
In M'hich that they liad maad hir ordi- 

naunce 
Of vitaille and of other purveyaunce, 



They goon and pleye hem al the longe 

day. 905 

And this was on the sixte morwe of May, 
Which May had peynted with his softe 

shoures 
This gardin ful of leves and of floures; 
And craft of mannes hand so curiously 
Arrayed hadde this gardin, trewely, 910 
That never was ther gardin of swich 

prys, 
But-if it were the verray paradys. 
The odour of floures and the fresshe 

sighte 
Wolde han maad any herte for to lighte 
That ever was born, but-if to gret sik- 

nesse, 915 

Or to gret sorwe helde it in distresse; 
So ful it was of beautee with plesaunce. 
At-after diner gonne they to daunce. 
And singe also, save Dorigen allone, 
Which made alvvey hir compleint and hir 

nione; 920 

For she ne saugh him on the daunce go, 
That was hir housbonde and hir love 

also. 
But nathelees she moste a tyme abyde, 
And with good hope lete hir sorwe slyde. 
Up-on this daunce, amonges othere 

men, 925 

Daunced a squyer biforen Dorigen, 
That fressher was and lolyer of array. 
As to my doom, than is the monthe of 

May. 
He singeth, daunceth, passinge any man 
That is, or was, sith that the world 

bigan. 930 

Ther-with he was, if men sholde him 

discryve, 
Oon of the beste faringe man on-lyve; 
Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche 

and wys, 
And wel biloved, and holden in gret 

prys. 
And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, 
Unwiting of this Dorigen at al, 936 

This lusty squyer, servant to Venus, 
Which that y-cleped w-as Aurelius, 
Had loved hir best of any creature 
Two yeer and more, as was his aventure, 
But never dorste he telle hir his grev- 

aunce; 941 

With-outen coppe he drank al his pen- 

aunce. 



232 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[943-1015. 



He was despeyred, no-thing dorste he 

seye, 
Save in his songes somwhat wolde he 

wreye 
His wo, as in a general compleyning; 945 
He seyde he lovede, and was biloved 

no-thing. 
Of swich matere made he manye layes, 
Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, 
How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, 
But languissheth, as a furie dooth in 

helle; 950 

And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide 

Ekko 
For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir 

wo. 
In other manere than ye here me seye, 
Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye; 
Save that, paraventure, som-tyme at 

daunces, 955 

Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, 
It may wel be he loked on hir face 
In swich a wyse, as man that asketh 

grace; 
But no-thing wiste she of his entente. 
Nathelees, it happed, er they thennes 

wente, 960 

By-cause that he was hir neighebour. 
And was a man of worship and honour. 
And hadde y-knowen him of tyme yore. 
They fiUe in speche; and forth more and 

more 
Un-to his purpos drough Aurelius, 965 
And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde 

thus: 
* Madame,' quod he, ' by god that this 

world made, 
So that I wiste it mighte your herte 

glade, 
I wolde, that day that your Arveragus 
Wente over the see, that I, Aurelius, 970 
Had went ther never I sholde have come 

agayn ; 
For wel I woot my service is in vayn. 
My guerdon is but bresting of myn 

herte; 
Madame, reweth upon my peynes smerte; 
For with a word ye may me sleen or 

save, 975 

Heer at your feet god wolde that I were 

grave ! 
I ne have as now no leyser more to 

seye J 



Have mercy, swete, or ye wol do me 

deye ! ' 
She gan to loke up-on Aurelius : 
* Is this your wil,' quod she, * and sey ye 

thus? 980 

Never erst,' quod she, ' ne wiste I what 

ye mente. 
But now, Aurelie, I knowe your entente, 
By thilke god that yaf me soule and lyf, 
Ne shal I never been untrewe wyf 
In word ne werk, as fer as I have 

wit : 985 

I wol ben his to whom that I am knit; 
Tak this for fynal answer as of me.' 
But after that in pley thus seyde she : 
' Aurelie,' quod she, ' by heighe god 

above, 
Yet wolde I graunte yow to been your 

love, 990 

Sin I yow see so pitously complayne; 
Loke what day that, endelong Brilayne, 
Ye remoeve alle the rokkes, stoon by stoon, 
That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon — 
I seye, whan ye han maad the coost so 

clene 995 

Of rokkes, that ther nis no stoon y-sene, 

Than wol I love yow best of any man; 

Have heer my trouthe in al that ever I 

can.' 

* Is ther non other grace in yow,' quod 

he. 
' No, by that lord,' quod she, ' that 

maked me ! 1000 

For wel I woot that it shal never bityde. 
Lat swiche folies out of your herte slyde. 
What deyntee sholde a man han in his 

lyf 
For to go love another mannes wyf. 
That hath hir body whan so that him 

lyketh?' 1005 

Aurelius ful ofte sore syketh; 
Wo was Aurelie, whan that he this herde, 
And with a sorweful herte he thus 

answerde : 
' Madame,' quod he, ' this were an 

inpossible ! 
Than moot I dye of sodein deth hor- 
rible.' loio 
And with that word he turned him anoon. 
Tho come hir othere freendes many oon, 
And in the aleyes romeden up and doun, 
And no-thing wiste of this conclusioun. 
But sodeinly bigonne revel newe 1015 



I 



ioi6-io86.] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



233 



Til that the brighte sonne loste his hewe; 
For thorisonte hath reft the sonne his 

light; 
This is as muche to seye as it was 

night. 
And hoom they goon in loye and in 

solas, 
Save only wrecche Aurelius, alias ! 1020 
He to his hous is goon with sorweful 

herte; 
He seeth he may nat fro his deeth 

asterte. 
Him semed that he felte his herte colde; 
Up to the hevene his handes he gan 

holde, 
And on his knowes bare he sette him 

doun, 1025 

And in his raving seyde his orisoun. 
For verray wo out of his wit he breyde. 
He niste what he spak, but thus he 

seyde; 
With pitous herte his pleynt hath he 

bigonne 
Un-to the goddes, and first un-to the 

sonne : 1030 

He seyde, * Appollo, god and gov- 

ernour 
Of every plaunte, herbe, tree and flour, 
That yevest, after thy declinacioun, 
To ech of hem his tyme and his sesoun, 
As thyn herberwe chaungeth lowe or 

hye, 1035 

Lord Phebus, cast thy merciable ye 
On wrecche Aurelie, which that am but 

lorn. 
Lo, lord ! my lady hath my deeth y-sworn 
With-oute gilt, but thy benignitee 
Upon my dedly herte have som pitee ! 
For wel I woot, lord Phebus, if yow 

lest, 1041 

Ye may me helpen, save my lady, best. 
Now voucheth sauf that I may yow 

devyse 
How that I may been holpe and in what 

wyse. 
Your blisful suster, Lucina the shene, 
That of the see is chief goddesse and 

quene, 1046 

Though Neptunus have deitee in the 

see. 
Yet emperesse aboven him is she : 
Ye knowen wel, lord, that right as hir 

desyr 



Is to be quiked and lightned of your 

fyr, 1050 

For which she folweth yow ful bisily, 
Right so the see desyreth naturelly 
To folwen hir, as she that is goddesse 
Bothe in the see and riveres more and 

lesse. 
Wherfore, lord Phebus, this is my re- 

queste — 1055 

Do this miracle, or do myn herte breste — 
That now, next at this opposicioun. 
Which in the signe shal be of the Leoun, 
As preyeth hir so greet a flood to bringe. 
That fyve fadme at the leeste it over- 
springe 1060 
The hyeste rokke in Armorik Briteyne; 
And lat this flood endure yeres tweyne ; 
Than certes to my lady may I seye : 
" Holdeth your heste, the rokkes been 

aweye." 
Lord Phebus, dooth this miracle for 

me; 1065 

Preye hir she go no faster cours than ye; 
I seye, preyeth your suster that she go 
No faster cours than ye thise yeres two. 
Than shal she been evene atte fuUe alway. 
And spring-flood laste bothe night and 

day. 1070 

And, but she vouche-sauf in swiche 

manere 
To graunte me my sovereyn lady dere. 
Prey hir to sinken every rok adoun 
In-to hir owene derke regioun 
Under the ground, ther Pluto dwelleth 

inne, 1075 

Or never-mo shal I my lady winne. 
Thy temple in Delphos wol I barefoot 

seke; 
Lord Phebus, see the teres on my cheke. 
And of my peyne have som compas- 

sioun.' 
And with that word in swowne he fil 

adoun, 1080 

And longe tyme he lay forth in a 

traunce. 
His brother, which that knew of his 

penaunce, 
Up caughte him and to bedde he hath 

him broght. 
Dispeyred in this torment and this thoght 
Lete I this woful creature lye; 1085 

Chese he for me, whether he wol live or 

dye. 



234 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[ 1 087-1 167. 



Arveragus, with hele and greet honour, 
As he that was of chivahye the flour, 
Is comen hoom, and othere worthy men. 
O bhsful artow now, thou Dorigen, 1090 
That hast thy lusty housbonde in thyne 

arm OS, 
The fresshe knight, the worthy man of 

armes. 
That loveth thee, as his owene hertes 

lyf. 
No-thing list him to been imaginatyf 
If any wight had spoke, whyl he was 

oute, 1095 

To hire of love ; he hadde of it no 

doute. 
He noght entendeth to no swich matere, 
But daunceth, lusteth, maketh hir good 

chere; 
And thus in loye and blisse I lete hem 

dwelle, 1099 

And of the syke Aurelius wol I telle. 
In langour and in torment furious 
Two yeer and more lay wrecche Aurelius, 
Er any foot he mighte on erthe goon; 
Ne confort in this tyme hadde he noon, 
Save of his brother, which that was a 

clerk; 1 105 

He knew of al this wo and al this werk. 
For to non other creature certeyn 
Of this matere he dorste no word seyn. 
Under his brest he bar it more secree 
Than ever dide Pamphilus for Galathee. 
His brest was hool, with -oute for to sene. 
But in his herte ay was the arwe kene. 
And wel ye knowe that of a sursanure 
In surgerye is perilous the cure, 
But men mighte touche the arwe, or 

come therby. 1 1 15 

His brother weep and wayled prively. 
Til atte laste him lil in remembraunce, 
That whyl he was at Orliens in Fraunce, 
As yonge clerkes, that been likerous 
To reden artes that been curious, J 1 20 
Seken in every halke and every heme 
Particuler sciences for to lerne. 
He him remembred that, upon a day, 
At Orliens in studie a book he say 
Of magik naturel, which his felawe, 1 1 25 
That was that tyme a bacheler of lawe, 
Al were he ther to lerne another craft, 
Had prively upon his desk y-laft; 
Which book spak muchel of the opera- 

ciouns, 



Touchinge the eighte and twenty man- 

siouns 1 1 30 

That longen to the mone, and swich 

folye. 
As in our dayes is nat worth a flye; 
P'or holy chirches feith in our bileve 
Ne suffreth noon illusion us to greve. 
And whan this book was in his remem- 
braunce, 1 1 35 
Anon for loye his herte gan to daunce, 
And to him-self he seyde prively : 
' My brother shal be warisshed hastily; 
For I am siker that ther be sciences, 1139 
By whiche men make diverse apparences 
Swiclie as thise subtile tregetoures pleye. 
For ofte at festes have I wel herd seye, 
That tregetours, wiLh-inne an halle large, 
Have maad come in a water and a barge, 
And in the halle rowen up and doun. 
Somtyme hath semed come a grim 

leoun; 1146 

And somtyme floures springe as in a 

mede; 
Somtyme a vyne, and grapes whyte and 

rede; 
Somtyme a castel, al of lym and stoon; 
And whan hem lyked, voyded it anoon. 
Thus semed it to every mannes sighte. 
Now than conclude I thus, that if I 

mighte 1152 

At Orliens som old felawe y-finde, 
That hadde this mones mansions in 

minde, 
Or other magik naturel above, 1155 

He sholde wel make my brother han his 

love. 
For with an apparence a clerk may 

make 
To mannes sighte, that alle the rokkes 

blake 
Of Britaigne weren y-voyded everichon, 
And shippes by the brinke comen and 

gon, 1 1 60 

And in swich forme endure a day or 

two; 
Than were my brother warisshed of his 

wo. 
Than moste she nedes holden hir biheste, 
Or elles he shal shame hir atte leste.' 
What sholde I make a lenger tale of 

this? 1165 

Un-to his brotheres bed he comen is. 
And swich confort he yaf him for to gon 



1 1 68-1 234-] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



235 



To Orliens, that he up stirte anon, 

And on his wey forthward thanne is he 

fare, 
In hope for to been lissed of his care. 
Whan they were come abnost to that 

citee. 1171 

But-if it were a two furlong or three, 
A yong clerk rominge by him-self they 

mette, 
Which that in Latin thriftily hem grette, 
And after that he seyde a wonder thing : 
* I knowe,' quod he, ' the cause of your 

coming'; 1 1 76 

And er they ferther any fote wente, 
He tolde hem al that was in hir entente. 
This Briton clerk him asked of felawes 
The whiche that he had knowe in olde 

dawes; 1 180 

And he ansvverde him that they dede 

were. 
For which he weep ful ofte many a tere, 
Doun of his hors Aurelius lighte 

anon, 
And forth with this magicien is he gon 
Hoom to his hous, and made hem wel at 

ese. 1 1 85 

Hem lakked no vitaillc that mighte hem 

plese; 
So wel arrayed hous as ther was oon 
Aurelius in his lyf saugh never noon. 

Pie shewed him, er he wente to sopeer, 
Forestes, parkes ful of wilde deer; 1 190 
Ther saugh he hertes with hir homes 

bye. 
The gretteste that ever were seyn witb 

ye. 
He saugh of hem an hondred slayn with 

houndes, 
And somme with arwes blede of bittre 

wound es. 
He saugh, whan voided were thise wilde 

deer, 1195 

Thise fauconers upon a fair river, 
That with hir haukes ban the heron 

slayn. 
Tho saugh he knightes lusting in a 

playn ; 
And after this, he dide him swich ple- 

saunce, 
That he him shewed his lady on a 

daunce 1200 

On which him-self he daunced, as him 

tho ugh te. 



And whan this maister, that this magik 

wroughte, 
Saugh it was tyme, he clapte his handes 

two, 
And farewel ! al our revel was ago. 
And yet remoeved they never out of the 

hous, 1205 

Whyl they saugh al this sighte merveil- 

lous, 
But in his studie, ther-as his bookes be, 
They seten stille, and no wight but they 

three. 
To him this maister called his squyer, 
And seyde him thus : ' is redy our 

soper? 1 210 

Almost an houre it is, I undertake, 
Sith I yow bad our soper for to make, 
Whan that thise worthy men wenten 

with me 
In-to my studie, ther-as my bookes be.' 
* Sire,' quod this squyer, ' whan it lyketh 

yow, 1 21 5 

It is al redy, though ye wol right now.' 
' Go we than soupe,' quod he, ' as for the 

beste ; 
This amorous folk som-tyme mote ban 

reste.' 
At-after soper fiUe they in tretee, 
What somme sholde this maistres guer- 
don be, 1220 
To remoeven alle the rokkes of Britayne, 
And eek from Gerounde to the mouth of 

Sayne. 
He made it straunge, and swoor, so 

god him save, 
Lasse than a thousand pound he wolde 

nat have, 
Ne gladly for that somme he wolde nat 

goon. 1225 

Aurelius, with blisful herte anoon, 
Answerde thus, ' fy on a thousand pound ! 
This wyde world, which that men seye is 

round, 
I wolde it yeve, if I were lord of it. 
This bargayn is ful drive, for we ben 

knit. 1230 

Ye shal be payed trewely, by my trouthe ! 
But loketh now, for no necligence or 

slouthe. 
Ye tarie us beer no lenger than to- 

morwe.' 
*Nay,' quod this clerk, 'have heer my 

feith to borwe.' 



236 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1235-1314. 



To bedde is goon Aurelius whan him 

leste, 1235 

And wel ny al that night he hadde his 

reste; 
What for his labour and his hope of 

bhsse, 
His woful herte of penaunce hadde a 

hsse. 
Upon the morwe, whan that it was day, 
To Britaigne toke they the righte way, 
Aurehus, and this magicien bisyde, 1241 
And been descended ther they wolde 

abyde ; 
And this was, as the bokes me remembre. 
The colde frosty seson of Decembre. 

Phebus wex old, and hewed lyk latoun, 
That in his hote declinacioun 1246 

Shoon as the burned gold with stremes 

brighte; 
But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, 
Wher-as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel 

seyn. 1249 

The bittre frostes, "with the sleet and reyn. 
Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd. 
lanus sit by the fyr, with double berd. 
And drinketh of his bugle-horn the wyn. 
Biforn him stant braun of the tusked 

swyn. 
And " Nowel " cryeth every lusty man. 

Aurelius, in al that ever he can, 1256 
Doth to his maister chere and reverence. 
And preyeth him to doon his diligence 
To bringen him out of his peynes smerte. 
Or with a swerd that he wolde slitte his 

herte. 1260 

This subtil clerk swich routhe had of 

this man. 
That night and day he spedde him that 

he can, 
To wayte a tyme of his conclusioun; 
This is to seye, to make illusioun, 
By swich an apparence or logelrye, 1265 
I ne can no termes of astrologye, 
That she and every wight sholde wene 

and seye. 
That of Britaigne the rokkes were aweye, 
Or elles they were sonken under grounde. 
So atte laste he hath his tyme y-founde 
To maken his lapes and his wrecched- 

nesse 1271 

Of swich a supersticious cursednesse. 
His tables Toletanes forth he broght, 
Ful wel corrected, ne ther lakked noght, 



Neither his collect ne his expans yeres, 
Ne his rotes ne his othere geres, 1276 
As been his centres and his arguments, 
And his proporcionels convenients 
For his equacions in every thing. 
And, by his eighte spere in his wirking. 
He knew ful wel how fer Alnath was 

shove 1 281 

Fro the heed of thilke fixe Aries above 
That in the ninthe speere considered is; 
Ful subtilly he calculed al this. 

Whan he had founde his firste man- 

sioun, 1285 

He knew the remenant by proporcioun; 
And knew the arysing of his mone weel, 
And in whos face, and terme, and every- 

deel; 
And knew ful weel the mones mansioun 
Acordaunt to his operacioun, 1290 

And knew also his othere observaunces 
For swiche illusiouns and swiche mes- 

chaunces 
As hethen folk used in thilke dayes; 
For which no lenger maked he delayes. 
But thurgh his magik, for a wyke or 

tweye, 1295 

It semed that alle the rokkes were 

aweye. 

Aurelius, which that yet despeired is 

Wher he shal han his love or fare amis, 

Awaiteth night and day on this miracle; 

And whan he knew that ther was noon 

obstacle, 1300 

That voided were thise rokkes everichon, 
Doun to his maistres feet he hi anon, 
And seyde, * I woful wrecche, Aurelius, 
Thanke yow, lord, and lady myn Venus, 
That me han holpen fro my cares colde : ' 
And to the temple his wey forth hath he 

holde, 1306 

Wher-as he knew he sholde his lady see. 
And whan he saugh his time, anon-right 

he. 
With dredful herte and with ful humble 

chere, 
Salewed hath his sovereyn lady dere : 
* My righte lady,' quod this woful 

man, 1311 

' Whom I most drede and love as I best 

can, 
And lothest were of al this world dis- 

plese, 
Nere it that I for yow have swich disese. 



:3i5-i392.] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



237 



That I moste dyen heer at your foot 

anon, 1 3 15 

Noght wolde I telle how me is wo bigon; 
But certes outher moste I dye or pleyne; 
Ye slee me giltelees for verray peyne. 
But of my deeth, thogh that ye have no 

routhe, 
Avyseth yow, er that ye breke your 

trouthe. 1320 

Repenteth yow, for thilke god above, 
Er ye me sleen by-cause that I yow love. 
For, madame, wel ye woot what ye han 

hight; 
Nat that I chalange any thing of right 1324 
Of yow my sovereyn lady, but your grace; 
But in a gardin yond, at swich a place, 
Ye woot right wel what ye bihighten me; 
And in myn hand your trouthe plighten ye 
To love me best, god woot, ye seyde so, 
Al be that I unworthy be therto. 1330 
Madame, I speke it for the honour of 

yow, 
More than to save myn hertes lyf right 

now; 
I have do so as ye comanded me; 
And if ye vouche-sauf, ye may go see. 
Doth as yow list, have your biheste in 

minde, 1335 

For quik or deed, right ther ye shul me 

tinde ; 
In yow lyth al, to do me live or deye; — 
But wel I woot the rokkes been aweye ! ' 
He taketh his leve, and she astonied 

stood. 
In al hir face nas a drope of blood; 1340 
She wende never han come in swich a 

trappe : 
*Alas! ' quod she, ' that ever this sholde 

happe ! 
For wende I never, by possibilitee. 
That swich a monstre or merveille mighte 

be! 
It is agayns the proces of nature ' : 1345 
And hoom she gooth a sorweful creature. 
For verray fere unnethe may she go. 
She wepeth, wailleth, al a day or two. 
And swowneth, that it routhe was to 

see; 1349 

But why it was, to no wight tolde she; 
For out of toune was goon Arveragus. 
But to hir-self she spak, and seyde thus, 
With face pale and with ful sorweful chere, 
In hir compleynt, as ye shui alter here: 



Alias,' quod she, ' on thee, Fortune, 



I pleyne. 



i55 



That unwar wrapped hast me in thy 

cheyne; 
For which, tescape, woot I no socour 
Save only deeth or elles dishonour; 
Oon of thise two bihoveth me to chese. 
But nathelees, yet have I lever to lese 1360 
My lyf than of my body have a shame. 
Or knowe my-selven fals, or lese my name. 
And with my deth I may be quit, y-wis. 
Hath ther nat many a noble wyf, er this, 
And many a mayde y-slayn hir-self, alias ! 
Rather than with hir body doon trespas? 
Yis, certes, lo, thise stories beren wit- 

nesse; 
Whan thretty tyraunts, ful of cursed- 

nesse, 
Had slayn Phidoun in Athenes, atte 

feste, 1369 

They comanded his doghtres for tareste, 
And bringen hem biforn hem in despyt, 
Al naked, to fulfiUe hir foul delyt. 
And in hir fadres blood they made hem 

daunce 
Upon the pavement, god yeve hem mis- 

chaunce ! 
For which thise woful maydens, ful of 

drede, 1375 

Rather than they wolde lese hir mayden- 

hede. 
They prively ben stirt in-to a welle. 
And dreynte hem-selven, as the bokes 

telle. 
They of Messene lete enquere and 

seke 
Of Lacedomie fifty maydens eke, 1380 
On whiche they wolden doon hir lech- 

erye ; 
But was there noon of al that companye 
That she nas slayn, and with a good 

entente 
Chees rather for to dye than assente 
To been oppressed of hir mayden- 

hede. 1385 

Why sholde I thanne to dye been in 

drede? 
Lo, eek, the tiraunt Aristoclides 
That loved a mayden, heet Stimphalides, 
Whan that hir fader slayn was on a night, 
Un-to Dianes temple goth she right, 1390 
And hente the image in hir handes two, 
Fro which image wolde she never go. 



238 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1 393-1466. 



No wight ne mighte hir handcs of it 

arace, 
Til she was slayn right in the selve place. 
Now sith that maydens haclden swich 

despyt 1395 

To been defouled with mannes foul 

delyt, 
Wei oghte a wyf rather hir-selven slee 
Than be defouled, as it thinketh me. 

What shal I seyn of Hasdrubales wyf, 
That at Cartage birafte hir-self hir 

lyf? 1400 

For whan she saugh that Romayns wan 

the toun, 
She took hir children alle, and skipte 

adoun 
In-to the fyr, and chees rather to dye 
Than any Romayn dide hir vileinye. 
Hath nat Lucresse y-slayn hir-self, 

alias ! 1405 

At Rome, whanne she oppressed was 
Of Tarquin, for hir thoughte it was a 

shame 
To liven whan she hadde lost hir name? 

The sevene mayilens of Milesie also 
Han slayn hem-self, for verray drede and 

wo, 14 10 

Rather than folk of Gaule hem sholde 

oppresse. 
Mo than a thousand stories, as I gesse, 
Coude I now telle as touchinge this 

matere. 
Whan Habradate was slayn, his wyf so 

dere 
Hirselven slow, and leet hir blood to 

glyde 1415 

In Habradates woundes depe and wyde, 

And seyde, " my body, at the leeste way, 

Ther shal no wight defoulen, if I may." 

What sholde I mo ensamples heer-of 

sayn, 
Sith that so manye ban hem-selven 

slayn 1420 

Wei rather than they wolde defouled be? 
I wol conclude, that it is bet for me 
To sleen my-self, than been defouled 

thus. 
I wol be trewe un-to Arveragus, 
Or rather sleen my-self in som manere, 
As dide Demociones doghter dere, 1426 
By-cause that she wolde nat defouled be. 

O Cedasus ! it is ful greet pitee. 
To reden how thy doghtren deyde, alias ! 



That slowe hem-selven for swich maner 
cas. 1430 

As greet a pitee was it, or wel more, 
The Theban mayden, that for Nichanore 
Hir-selven slow, right for swich maner 
wo. 
Another Theban mayden dide right so; 
For oon of Macedoine hadde hir op- 
pressed, 1435 
She with hir deeth hir maydenhede re- 
dressed. 
What shal I seye of Nicerates wyf, 
That for swich cas birafte hir-self hir 
lyf? 
How trewe eek was to Alcebiades 
His love, that rather for to dyen 
chees 1440 
Than for to sufifre his body unburied be ! 
Lo which a wyf was Alceste,' quod she. 

' What seith Omer of gode Penalopee? 
Al Grece knoweth of hir chastitee. 

Pardee, of Laodomya is writen 

thus, 1445 

That whan at Troye was slayn Prothese- 

laus. 
No lenger wolde she live after his day. 
The same of noble Porcia telle I 
may; 
With-oute Brutus coude she nat live, 
To whom she hadde al hool hir herte 
yive. 1450 

The parfit wyfhod of Arthemesye 
Honoured is thurgh al the Barbarye. 

O Teuta, queen ! thy wyfly chastitee 
To alle wyves may a mirour be. 
The same thing I seye of Bilia, 1455 

Of Rodogone, and eek Valeria.' 

Thus pleyned Dorigene a day or tweye, 
Purposinge ever that she wolde deye. 

But nathelees, upon the thridde night, 

Hom cam Arveragus, this worthy 

knight, 1460 

And asked hir, why that she weep so 

sore? 
And she gan wepen ever lenger the 
more. 
' Alias ! ' quod she, * that ever was I 
born ! 
Thus have I seyd,' quod she, ' thus have 

I sworn ' — 
And told him al as ye han herd bi- 
fore; 1465 

It nedeth nat reherce it yow na-mnre. 



1467-1537-] 



F. THE FRANKELEYNS TALE. 



239 



This huusbond with glad chere, in 

freendly wyse, 
Answerde and seyde as I shal yow de- 

vyse : 
' Is ther oght elles, Dorigen, but this? ' 
* Nay, nay,' quod she, ' god help me so, 

as wis; 1470 

This is to muche, and it were goddes 

wille.' 
' Ye, wyf,' quod he, ' lat slepen that is 

stille; 
It may be wel, paraventure, yet to-day. 
Ye shul your trouthe holden, by my fay ! 
For god so wisly have mercy on me, 1475 
I hadde wel lever y-stiked for to be. 
For verray love which that I to yow 

have, 
But-if ye sholde your trouthe kepe and 

save. 
Trouthe is the hyeste thing that man may 

kepe ' : — 
But with that word he brast anon to 

wepe, 1480 

And seyde, * I yow forbede, up peyne of 

deeth, 
That never, whyl thee lasteth lyf ne 

breeth, 
To no wight tel thou of this aventure. 
As I may best, I wol my wo endure, 
Ne make no contenance of hevi- 

nesse, 1485 

That folk of yow may demen harm or 

gesse.' 
And forth he cleped a squyer and a 

mayde : 
'Goth forth anon with Dorigen,' he 

sayde, 
'And bringeth hir to swich a place 

anon.' 
They take hir leve, and on hir wey they 

gon; 1490 

But they ne wiste why she thider wente. 
He nolde no wight tellen his entente. 
Paraventure an heep of yow, y-wis, 
Wol holden him a levved man in this. 
That he wol putte his wyf in lupar- 
. tye; 1495 

Herkneth the tale, er ye up-on hir crye. 
She may have bettre fortune than yow 

semeth; 
And whan that ye han herd the tale, 

demeth. 
This squyer, which that highte Aurelius, 



On Dorigen that was so amorous, 1500 
Of aventure happed hir to mete 
Amidde the toun, right in the quikkest 

strete. 
As she was boun to goon the wey forth- 
right 
Toward the gardin ther-as she had hight. 
And he was to the gardinward also; 1505 
For wel he spyed, whan she wolde go 
Out of hir hous to any maner place. 
But thus they mette, of aventure or 

grace; 
And he saleweth hir with glad entente, 
And asked of hir whiderward she 

wente? 15 10 

And she answerde, half as she were 

mad, 
* Un-to the gardin, as myn housbond bad, 
My trouthe for to holde, alias ! alias ! ' 

Aurelius gan wondren on this cas. 
And in his herte had greet compassioun 
Of hir and of hir lamentacioun, 15 16 

And of Arveragus, the worthy knight, 
That bad hir holden al that she had 

hight, 
So looth him was his wyf sholde breke 

hir trouthe; 
And in his herte he caughte of this greet 

routhe, 1520 

Consideringe the beste on every syde. 
That fro his lust yet were him lever 

abyde 
Than doon so heigh a cherlish wrecched- 

nesse 
Agayns franchyse and alle gentillesse; 
For which in fewe wordes seyde he thus: 
* Madame, seyth to your lord Arvera- 
gus, 1526 
That sith I see his grete gentillesse 
To yow, and eek I see wel your distresse, 
That him were lever han shame (and 

that were routhe) 
Than ye to me sholde breke thus your 

trouthe, 1530 

I have wel lever ever to sufifre wo 
Than I departe the love bitwix yow two. 
I yow relesse, madame, in-to your hond 
Quit every surement and every bond. 
That ye han maad to me as heer-biforn, 
Sith thilke tyme which that ye were 

born. 1536 

My trouthe I plighte, I shal yow never 

repreve 



240 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1538-1616. 



Of no biheste, and here I take my leve, 
As of the treweste and the beste wyf 
That ever yet I knew in al my lyf. 1540 
But every wyf be-war of hir biheste, 
On Dorigene remembreth atte leste. 
Thus can a squyer doon a gentil dede, 
As well as can a knight, with-outen 

drede.' 
She thonketh him up-on hir knees al 

bare, ^ 1545 

And hoom un-to hir housbond is she fare. 
And tolde him al as ye han herd me 

sayd ; 
And be ye siker, he was so weel apayd, 
That it were inpossible me to wryte; 
What sholde I lenger of this'cas endyte? 
Arveragus and Dorigene his wyf 1551 
In sovereyn blisse leden forth hir lyf. 
Never eft ne was ther angre hem bi- 

twene ; 
He cherisseth hir as though she were a 

quene; 1554 

And she was to him trewe for evermore. 
Of thise two folk ye gete of me na-more. 

Aurelius, that his cost hath al forlorn, 
Curseth the tyme that ever he was born : 
* Alias,' quod he, ' alias ! that I bihighte 
Of pured gold a thousand pound of 

wighte 1560 

Un-to this philosophre ! how shal I do? 
I see na-more but that I am fordo. 
Myn heritage moot I nedes sclle, 
And been a begger; heer may I nat 

dwelle. 
And shamen al my kinrede in this 

place, 1565 

But I of him may gete bettre grace. 
But nathelees, I wol of him assaye, 
At certeyn dayes, yeer by yeer, to paye, 
And thanke him of his grete curteisye; 
My trouthe wol I kepe, I wol nat lye.' 
With herte soor he gooth un-to his 

cofre, 1 57 1 

And broghte gold un-to this philosophre, 
The value of fyve hundred pound, T 

gesse. 
And him bisecheth, of his gentillesse. 
To graunte him dayes of the remenaunt, 
And seyde, * maister, I dar wel make 

avaunt, 1576 

I failled never of my trouthe as yit; 
For sikeily my dette shal be quit 
Tovvardes yow, how-ever that 1 fare 



To goon a-begged in my kirtle bare. 1580 
But wolde ye vouche-sauf, up-on seurtee, 
Two yeer or three for to respyten me. 
Than were I wel; for elles moot I selle 
Myn heritage; ther is na-more to telle.* 

This philosophre sobrely answerde. 
And seyde thus, whan he thise wordes 

herde: 1586 

'Have I nat holden covenant un-to 

thee?' 

* Yes, certes, wel and trewely,' quod he. 

' Hastow nat had thy lady as thee 

lyketh?' 
'No, no,' quod he, and sorwefully he 

syketh. 1590 

* What was the cause? tel me if thou 

can.' 
Aurelius his tale anon bigan. 
And tolde him al, as ye han herd bifore; 
It nedeth nat to yow reherce it more. 

He seide, ' Arveragus, of gentillesse, 
Had lever dye in sorvve and in dis- 

tresse 1596 

Than that his wyf were of hir trouthe 

fals.' 
The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him 

als. 
How looth hir was to been a wikked 

wyf. 
And that she lever had lost that day hir 

lyf, 1600 

And that hir trouthe she swoor, thurgh 

innocence : 
' She never erst herde speke of appar- 

ence; 
That made me han of hir so greet pitee. 
And right as frely as he sente hir me, 
As frely sente I hir to him ageyn. 1605 
This al and som, 'ther is na-more to 

seyn.' 
This philosophre answerde, * leve 

brother, 
Everich of yow dide gentilly til other. 
Thou art a squyer, and he is a knight; 
But god forbede, for his blisful might, 1610 
But-if a clerk coude doon a gentil dede 
As wel as any of yow, it is no drede ! 

Sire, I relesse thee thy thousand pound, 
As thou right now were cropen out of 

the ground, 
Ne never er now ne haddest knowen 

me. 1615 

For sire, I wol nat take a peny of thee 



1617-1624. I-43-] 



G. THE SECONDE NONNES TALE. 



241 



For al my craft, ne noght for my tra- 

vaille. 
Thou hast y-payed wel for my vitaille ; 
It is y-nogh, and farewel, have good day : ' 
And took his hers, and forth he gooth 

his way. 1620 



Lordinges, this question wolde I aske 
now, 
Which was the moste free, as thinketh 

yow? 
Now telleth me, er that ye ferther wende. 
I can na-more, my tale is at an ende. 



Here is ended the Frankeleyns Tale, 



GROUP G. 



THE SECONDE NONNES TALE. 



The Prologe of the Seconde 
NoNNES Tale. 

The ministre and the norice un-to vyces. 
Which that men clepe in English ydel- 

nesse. 
That porter of the gate is of delyces, 
To eschue, and by hir contrarie hir op- 

presse. 
That is to seyn, by leveful bisinesse, 5 
Wel oghten we to doon al our entente. 
Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us 

hente. 

For he, that with his thousand cordes 

slye 
Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe, 
Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye, 10 
He can so lightly cacche him in his 

trappe. 
Til that a man be hent right by the 

lappe. 
He nis nat war the feend hath him in 

honde; 
Wel oughte us werche, and ydelnes with- 

stonde. 

And though men dradden never for to 
dye, 15 

Yet seen men wel by reson doutelees. 
That ydelnesse is roten slogardye. 
Of which ther never comth no good en- 

crees; 
And seen, that slouthe hir holdeth in a 

lees 
Only to slepe, and for to ete and drinke, 
And to devouren al that othere swinke. 21 



And for to putte us fro swiche ydelnesse, 
That cause is of so greet confusioun, 
I have heer doon my feithful bisinesse, 
After the legende, in translacioun 25 

Right of thy glorious lyf and passioun, 
Thou with thy gerland wroght of rose 

and lilie; 
Thee mene I, mayde and martir, seint 

Cecilie ! 

Inuocacio ad Mariam. 

And thou that flour of virgines art alle, 
Of whom that Bernard list so wel to wryte, 
To thee at my biginning first I calle; 31 
Thou comfort of us wrecches, do me en- 

dyte 
Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hir 

meryte 
The eternal lyf, and of the feend victorie, 
As man may after redem in hir storie. 35 

Thou mayde and mooder, doghter of thy 
sone. 

Thou welle of mercy, sinful soules cure, 

In whom that god, for bountee, chees to 
wone, 

Thou humble, and heigh over every crea- 
ture. 

Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature, 40 

That no desdeyn the maker hadde of 
kinde. 

His sone in blode and flesh to clothe and 
winde. 

Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy 
sydes 



242 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[44-112. 



Took mannes shap the eternal love and 

pees, 
That of the tryne compas lord and gyde 

is, 45 

Whom erthe and see and heven, out of 

relees, 
Ay herien ; and thou, virgin wemmelees. 
Bar of thy body, and dweltest mayden 

pure. 
The creatour of every creature. 

Assembled is in thee magnificence 50 
With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich 

pitee 
That thou, that art the sonne of excel- 
lence, 
Nat only helpest hem that preyen thee, 
But ofte tyme, of thy benignitee, 
Ful frely, er that men thyn help bi- 
seche, 55 

Thou goost biforn, and art hir lyves leche. 

Now help, thou meke and blisful fayre 

mayde. 
Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of 

galle; 
Think on the womman Cananee, that 

sayde 
That whelpes eten somme of the crommes 

alle 60 

That from hir lordes table been y-falle; 
And though that I, unworthy sone of 

Eve, 
Be sinful, yet accepte my bileve. 

And, for that feith is deed with-outen 

werkes, 
So for to werken yif me wit and space, 65 
That I be quit fro thennes that most derk 

is! 
O thou, that art so fayr and ful of grace. 
Be myn advocat in that heighe place 
Ther-as withouten ende is songe ' Osanne,' 
Thou Cristes mooder, doghter dere of 

Anne ! 70 

And of thy light my soule in prison lighte. 
That troubled is by the contagioun 
Of my body, and also by the wighte 
Of erthly luste and fals affeccioun; 
O haven of refut, o salvacioun 75 

Of hem that ben in sorvve and in distresse. 
Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse. 



Yet preye I yow that reden that I wryte, 
Foryeve me, that I do no diligence 
This ilke storie subtilly to endyte; 80 

For both have 1 the wordes and sentence 
Of him that at the seintes reverence 
Tlie storie wrout, and fulwe hir legende. 
And prey yow, that ye wol my werk 
amende. 

Interpretacio nominis Cecilie, qiiam ponit 
frater lacobus lannensis in Legenda 
Atirea. 

First wolde I yow the name of seint Ce- 
ciHe 85 

Expoune, as men may in hir storie see, 
It is to seye in English * hevenes lilie,' 
For piire chastnesse of virginitee; 
Or, for she whytnesse hadde of honestee, 
And grene of conscience, and of good 
fame 90 

The sote savour, * lilie ' was hir name. 

Or Cecile is to seye 'the wey to blinde,' 
For she ensample was by good techinge; 
Or elles Cecile, as I writen finde. 
Is ioyned, by a maner conioininge 95 
Of ' hevene ' and ' Lia ' ; and heer, in fig- 

uringe. 
The * heven ' is set for thoght of holinesse, 
And ' Lia ' for hir lasting bisinesse. 

Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere, 
* Wanting of blindnesse,' for hir grete 

Hght 100 

Of sapience, and for hir thewes clere; 
Or elles, lo ! this maydens name bright 
Of ' hevene ' and * leos ' comth, for which 

by right 
Men mighte hir wel ' the heven of peple' 

calle, 
Ensample of gode and wyse werkes 

alle. 105 

For * leos ' * peple ' in English is to seye. 
And right as men may in the hevene see 
The Sonne and mone and sterres every 

weye. 
Right so men gostly, in this mayden free, 
Seyen of feith the magnanimitee, 1 10 
And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience, 
And sondry werkes, brighte of excel- 
lence. 



1 1 3- 1 79. J 



G. THE SECONDE NONNES TALE. 



243 



And right so as thise philosophres wryte 
That heven is swift and round and eek 

brenninge, 114 

Right so was fayre Cecilie the whyte 
Ful swift and bisy ever in good werkinge, 
And round and hool in good persever- 

inge, 
And brenning ever in charitee ful 

brighte; 
Now have I yow declared what she 

highte. 

Explicit. 



Here biginneth the Seconde Nonnes 
Tale, of the Lyf of Seinte Cecile. 

This mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lyf 

seith, 120 

Was comen of Roniayns, and of noble 

kinde, 
And from hir cradel up fostred in the 

feith 
Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir minde; 
She never cessed, as I writen finde, 
Of hir preyere, and god to love and 

drede, 125 

Biseking him to kepe hir maydenhede. 

And when this mayden sholde unto a 

man 
Y-wedded be, that was ful yong of age, 
Which that y-cleped was Valerian, 
And day was comen of hir mariage, 130 
She, ful devout and humble in hir corage, 
Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful fayre, 
Had next hir flesh y-clad hir in an heyre. 

And whyl the organs maden melodye, 
To god alone in herte thus sang she; 135 
' O lord, my soule and eek my body gye 
Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be : ' 
And, for his love that deyde upon a tree, 
Every seconde or thridde day she faste, 
Ay biddinge in hir orisons ful faste. 140 

The night cam, and to bedde moste she 

gon 
With hir housbonde, as ofte is the manere, 
And prively to him she seyde anon, 
' O swete and wel biloved spouse dere, 
Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it 

here, 145 



Which that right fain I wolde unto yow 

seye, 
So that ye swere ye shul me nat biwreye.' 

Valerian gan faste unto hir swere. 
That for no cas, ne thing that mighte be, 
He sholde never-mo biwreyen here; 150 
And thanne at erst to him thus seyde 

she, 
' I have an angel which that loveth me. 
That with greet love, wher-so I wake or 

slepe, 
Is redy ay my body for to kepe. 

And if that he may felen, out of drede, 155 
That ye me t(juche or love in vileinye, 
He right anon wol slee yow with the 

dede, 
And in your yowthe thus ye shulden dye; 
And if that ye in clene love me gye, 
He wol yow loven as me, for your clen- 

nesse, 1 60 

And shewen yow his loye and his bright- 

nesse.' 

Valerian, corrected as god wolde, 
Answerde agayn, 'if I shal trusten thee, 
Lat me that angel se, and him biholde; 
And if that it a verray angel be 165 

Than wol I doon as thou hast preyed 

me; 
And if thou love another man, for sothe 
Right with this swerd than wol I slee 

yow bothe.' 

Cecile answerde anon right in this wyse, 
' If that yow list, the angel shul ye 

see, 170 

So that ye trowe on Crist and yow bap- 

tyse. 
Goth forth to Via Apia,' quod she, 
' That fro this tuun ne stant but myles 

three. 
And, to the povre folkes that ther dwelle, 
Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow 

telle. 175 

Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem 
sente. 

To shewen yow the gode Urban the olde. 

For secree nedes and for good entente. 

And whan that ye seint Urban han bi- 
holde, 



244 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[ 1 80-246. 



Telle him the wordes whiche I to yovv 
tolde; 180 

And whan that he hath purged yow fro 
sinne, 

Thanne shul ye see that angel, er ye 
twinne.' 

Valerian is to the place y-gon, 

And right as him was taught by his lern- 

inge, 
He fond this holy olde Urban anon 185 
Among the seintes buriels lotinge. 
And he anon, with-outen taryinge, 
Dide his message; and whan that he it 

tolde. 
Urban for loye his hondes gan up holde. 

The teres from his yen leet he falle — 1 90 

* Almighty lord, o lesu Crist,' quod he, 

* Sower of chast conseil, herde of us alle, 
The fruit of thilke seed of chastitee 
That thou hast sowe in Cecile, tak to 

thee! 
Lo, lyk a bisy bee, with-outen gyle, 195 
Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile ! 

For thilke spouse, that she took but now 
Ful lyk a hers leoun, she sendeth here. 
As meke as ever was any lamb, to yow ! ' 
And with that worde, anon ther gan 

appere 200 

An old man, clad in whyte clothes clere. 
That hadde a book with lettre of golde in 

honde, 
And gan biforn Valerian to stonde. 

Valerian as deed fil doun for drede 
Whan he him saugh, and he up hente 

him tho, 205 

And on his book right thus he gan to 

rede — 
*Oo Lord, 00 feith, 00 god with-outen 

mo, 
Oo Cristendom, and fader of alle also, 
Aboven alle and over al everywhere ' — 
Thise wordes al with gold y-writen 

were. 210 

Whan this was rad, than seyde this olde 

man, 
' Levestow this thing or no ? sey ye or 

nay.' 

* 1 leve al this thing,' quod Valerian, 



' For sother thing than this, I dar wel 

say. 
Under the hevene no wight thinke 

may.' 215 

Tho vanisshed the olde man, he niste 

where, 
And pope Urban him cristened right 

there. 

Valerian goth hoom, and fint Cecilie 
With-inne his chambre with an angel 

stonde ; 
This angel hadde of roses and of lilie 220 
Corones two, the which he bar in honde; 
And first to Cecile, as I understonde. 
He yaf that oon, and after gan he take 
That other to Valerian, hir make. 

* With body clene and with unwemmed 

thoght 225 

Kepeth ay wel thise corones,' quod he; 
' Fro Paradys to yow have I hem broght, 
Ne never-mo ne shal they roten be, 
Ne lese her sote savour, trusteth me; 
Ne never wight shal seen hem with his 

ye, 230 

But he be chaast and hate vileinye. 

And thou, Valerian, for thou so sone 
Assentedest to good conseil also, 
Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han 
thy bone.' 

* I have a brother,' quod Valerian tho, 235 

* That in this world I love no man so. 

I pray yovv that my brother may han 

grace 
To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this 

place.' 

The angel seyde, * god lyketh thy re- 

queste. 
And bothe, with the palm of martir- 

dom, 240 

Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste.' 
And with that word Tiburce his brother 

com. 
And whan that he the savour undernom 
Which that the roses and the lilies caste, 
With-inne his herte he gan to wondre 

faste, 245 

And seyde, * I wondre, this tyme of the 
yeer, 



247-313.] 



G. THE SECOND E NONNES TALE. 



245 



Whennes that sote savour cometh so 
Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer. 
For though I hadde hem in myn hondes 
two, 249 

The savour mighte in me no depper go. 
The sote smel that in myn herte I finde 
Hath chaunged me al in another kinde.' 

Valerian seyde, * two corones han we, 
Snow-whyte and rose-reed, that shynen 

clere, 
"Whiche that thyn yen han no might to 

see; 255 

And as thou smellest hem thurgh my 

preyere, 
So shaltow seen hem, leve brother dere, 
If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe, 
Bileve aright and knovven verray trouthe.' 

Tiburce answerde, ' seistow this to me 260 
In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?'' 

* In dremes,' quod Valerian, ' han we be 
Unto this tyme, brother myn, y-wis. 

But now at erst in trouthe our dwelling is.' 

* How woostow this,' quod Tiburce, ' in 

what wyse ? ' 265 

Quod Valerian, ' that shal I thee devyse. 

The angel of god hath me the trouthe 

y-taught 
"Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt 

reneye 
The ydoles and be clene, and elles 

naught.' — 269 

And of the miracle of thise corones tweye 
Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye; 
Solempnely this noble doctour dere 
Commendeth it, and seith in this 

manere : 

The palm of martirdom for to receyve, 
Seinte Cecile, fultild of goddes yifte, 275 
The world and eek hir chambre gan she 

wey ve ; 
Witnes Tyburces and Valerians shrifte, 
To whiche god of his bountee wolde 

shifte 
Corones two of floures wel smellinge. 
And made his angel hem the corones 

bringe : 280 

The mayde hath broght thise men to 
blisse above: 



The world hath wist what it is worth, 

certeyn, 
Devocioun of chastitee to love. — 
Tho shewede him Cecile al open and 

pleyn 
That alle ydoles nis but a thing in veyn; 
For they been dombe, and therto they 

been deve, 286 

And charged him his ydoles for to leve. 

* Who so that troweth nat this, a beste 

he is,' 
Quod tho Tiburce, ' if that I shal nat 

lye.' 
And she gan kisse his brest, that herde 

this, 290 

And was ful glad he coude trouthe 

espye. 
' This day I take thee for myn allye,' 
Seyde this blisful fayre mayde dere; 
And after that she seyde as ye may here : 

' Lo, right so as the love of Crist,' quod 

she, 295 

' Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in 

that wyse 
Anon for myn allye heer take I thee, 
Sin that thou wolt thyn ydoles despyse. 
Go with thy brother now, and thee 

baptyse. 
And make thee clene; so that thou 

mowe biholde 300 

The angels face of which thy brother 

tolde.' 

Tiburce answerde and seyde, * brother 

dere, 
First tel me whider I shal, and to what 

man?' 
'To whom?' quod he, 'com forthwith 

right good chere, 
I wol thee lede unto the pope Urban.' 
'Til Urban? brother myn Valerian,' 306 
Quod tho Tiburce, '.woltow me thider 

lede? 
Me thinketh that it were a vi^onder dede. 

Ne menestow nat Urban,' quod he tho, 
' That is so ofte dampned to be deed, 310 
And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro. 
And dar nat ones putte forth his heed? 
Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so 
reed 



246 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[314-382. 



If he were founde, or that men mighte 

him spye; 
And we also, to here him companye — 

And whyl we seken thilke divinitee 316 

That is y-hid in hevene prively, 

Algate y-brend in this world shul we 

be!' 
To whom Cecile answerde boldely, 319 
' Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully 
This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother, 
If this were livinge only and non other. 

But ther is better lyf in other place, 
That never shal be lost, ne drede thee 

noght, 
Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his 

grace; 325 

That fadres sone hath alle thinges 

wroght; 
And al that wroght is with a skilful 

thoght, 
The goost, that fro the fader gan procede, 
Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede. 

By word and by miracle goddes sone, 330 
Whan he was in this world, declared 

here 
That ther was other lyf ther men may 

wone.' 
To whom answerde Tiburce, * o suster 

dere, 
Ne seydestow right now in this manere, 
Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfast- 

nesse; 335 

And now of three how maystow bere 

witnesse? ' 

* That shal I telle,' quod she, ' er I go. 
Right as a man hath sapiences three, 
Memorie, engyn, and intellect also. 
So, in o being of divinitee, 340 

Three persones may ther right wel be.' 
Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche 
Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche. 

And many pointes of his passioun ; 
How goddes sone in this world' was 

withholde, 345 

To doon mankinde pleyn remissioun, 
That was y-bounde in sinne and cares 

colde : 
Al this thing she unto Tiburce tolde. 



And after this Tiburce, in good entente, 
With Valerian to pope Urban he wente. 

That thanked god; and with glad herte 

and light 351 

He cristned him, and made him in that 

place 
Parfit in his lerninge, goddes knight. 
And after this Tiburce gat swich grace. 
That every day he saugh, in tyme and 

space, 355 

The angel of god; and every maner 

bone 
That he god axed, it was sped ful sone. 

It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn 
How many wondres lesus for hem 

wroghte; 
But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn, 
The sergeants of the toun of Rome hem 

soghte, 361 

And hem biforn Almache the prefect 

broghte, 
Which hem apposed, and knew al hir 

entente. 
And to the image of lupiter hem sente, 

And seyde, 'who so wol nat sacrifyse. 
Swap of his heed, this- is my sentence 

here.' 366 

Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse, 
(Jon Maximus, that was an officere 
Of the prefectes and his corniculere, 
Hem hente; and whan he forth the 

seintes ladde, 370 

Him-self he weep, for pitee that he 

hadde. 

Whan Maximus had herd the seintes lore, 
He gat him of the tormentoures leve, 
And ladde hem to his hous withoute 
more; 374 

And with hir preching, er that it were eve. 
They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve. 
And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone 
The false feith, to trowe in god allone. 

Cecilie cam, whan it was woxen night, 
With preestes that hem cristned alle 

y-fere; 380 

And afterward, whan day was woxen 

light, 
Cecile hem seyde with a ful sobre chere, 



383-450.] 



G. THE SECONDE NONNES TALE. 



247 



*Now, Cristas owene knightes leve and 

dere, 
Caste alle awey the werkes of derknesse, 
And armeth yow in armure of bright- 

nesse. 385 

Ye han for sothe y-doon a greet bataille, 
Your cours is doon, your feith han ye 

conserved, 
Goth to the corone of lyf that may nat 

faille; 
The rightful luge, which that ye han 

served, 
Shall yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved.' 
And whan this thing was seyd as I de- 

vyse, 391 

Men ladde hem forth to doon the sacri- 

fyse. 

But whan they weren to the place broght, 
To tellen shortly the conclusioun, 
They nolde encense ne sacrifice right 
noght, 395 

But on hir knees they setten hem.adoun 
With humble herte and sad devocioun. 
And losten bothe hir hedes in the place. 
Hir soules wenten to the king of grace. 

This Maximus, that saugh this thing bi- 

tyde, 400 

With pitous teres tolde it anon-right. 
That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde 
With angels ful of cleernesse and of light. 
And with his word converted many a 

wight; 
For which Almachius dide him so to- 

bete 405 

With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan 

lete. 

Cecile him took and buried him anoon 
By Tiburce and Valerian softely, 
Withinne hir burying-place, under the 

stoon. 
And after this Almachius hastily 410 
Bad his ministres fecchen openly 
Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence 
Doon sacrifyce, and lupiter encense. 

But they, converted at hir wyse lore, 
Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence 
Unto hir word, and cryden more and 
more, 416 



' Crist, goddes sone withouten difference, 
Is verray god, this is al our sentence. 
That hath so good a servant him to serve; 
This with o voys we trowen, thogh we 
sterve ! ' 420 

Almachius, that herde of this doinge. 
Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir 

see, 
And alderfirst, lo ! this was his axinge, 
' What maner womman artow? ' tho quod 

he. 

* I am a gentil womman born,' quod 

she. 425 

' I axe thee,' quod he, * thogh it thee greve, 
Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.' 

' Ye han bigonne your question folily,' 
Quod she, * that wolden two answeres con- 
clude 
In 00 demande; ye axed lewedly.' 430 
Almache answerde unto that similitude, 
' Of whennes comth thyn answering so 

rude? ' 
'Of whennes?' quod she, whan that she 

was freyned, 
' Of conscience and of good feith un- 
feyned.' 

Almachius seyde, 'ne takestow non hede 
Of my power?' and she answerde him 

this — 436 

' Your might,' quod she, ' ful litel is to 

drede; 
For every mortal mannes power nis 
But lyk a bladdre, ful of wind, y-wis. 
For with a nedles poynt, whan it is 

bio we, 440 

May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.' 

* Ful wrongfully bigonne thou,' quod he, 
'And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce; 
Wostow nat how our mighty princes free 
Han thus comanded and maad ordi- 

naunce, 445 

That every cristen wight shal han pen- 

aunce 
But-if that he his cristendom withseye. 
And goon al quit, if he wol it reneye?' 

* Your princes erren, as your nobley dooth,* 
Quuil tho Cecile, ' and with a wood sen- 
tence 450 



248 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[451-518. 



Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth ; 
For ye, that knowen wel our innocence, 
For as muche as we doon a reverence 
To Crist, and for we bare a cristen name, 
Ye putte on us a cryme, and tek a blame. 

But we that knowen thilke name so 456 
For vertuous, we may it nat withseye.' 
Almache answerde, * chees oon of thise 

two, 
Do sacrifyce, or cristendom reneye, 
That thou mowe now escapen by that 

weye.' 460 

At which the holy blisful fayre mayde 
Gan for to laughe, and to the luge seyde, 

' O luge, confus in thy nycetee, 
Woltow that I reneye innocence, 
To make me a wikked wight?' quod 
she; 465 

' Lo ! he dissimuleth here in audience, 
He stareth and woodeth in his adver- 
tence ! ' 
To whom Almachius, ' unsely wrecche, 
Ne woostow nat how far my might may 
strecche? 

Han noght our mighty princes to me 
yeven, 470 

Ye, bothe power and auctoritee 
To maken folk to dyen or to liven? 
Why spekestow so proudly than to me?' 

* I speke noght but stedfastly,' quod she, 

* Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my 

syde, 475 

We haten deedly thilke vyce of pryde. 

And if thou drede nat a sooth to here. 
Than wol I shewe al openly, by right. 
That thou hast maad a ful gret lesing 

here. 
Thou seyst, thy princes han thee yeven 

might 480 

Bothe for to sleen and for to quiken a 

wight; 
Thou, that ne mayst but only lyf bireve, 
Thou hast non other power ne no leve ! 

But thou mayst seyn, thy princes han thee 

maked 
Ministre of deeth ; for if thou speke of 

mo, 485 

Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked.' 



* Do wey thy boldnes,' seyde Almachius 

tho, 
' And sacrifyce to our goddes, er thou go; 
I recche nat what wrong that thou me 

profre. 
For I can suffre it as a philosophre; 490 

But thilke wronges may I nat endure 
That thou spekest of our goddes here,' 

quod he. 
Cecile answerede, * o nyce creature. 
Thou seydest no word sin thou spak to 

me 
That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee; 495 
And that thou were, in every maner 

wyse, 
A lewed officer and a veyn lustyse. 

Ther lakketh no-thing to thyn utter yen 
That thou nart blind, for thing that we 

seen alle 
That it is stoon, that men may wel es- 

pyen, 500 

That ilj<e stoon a god thou wolt it calle. 
I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle, 
And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it 

finde, 
Sin that thou seest nat with thyn yen 

blinde. 

It is a shame that the peple shal 505 
So scorne thee, and laughe at thy folye; 
For comunly men woot it wel overal. 
That mighty god is in his hevenes hye. 
And thise images, wel thou mayst espye, 
To thee ne to hem-self mowe nought 

profyte, 510 

For in effect they been nat worth a 

myte.' 

Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde 

she, 
And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde 

hir lede 
Hom til hir hous, 'and in hir hous,' 

quod he, 
' Brenne hir right in a bath of flambes 

rede.' 515 

And as he bad, right so was doon in 

dede; 
For in a bath they gonne hir faste shetten, 
And night and day greet fyr they under 

betten. 



519-581-] 



G. THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE. 



249 



The longe night and eek a day also, 
For al the fyr and eek the bathes hete, 
She sat al cold, and felede no wo, 521 
It made hir nat a drope for to swete. 
But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete; 
For he, Almachius, with ful wikke en- 
tente 524 
To sleen hir in the bath his sonde sente. 

Three strokes in the nekke he smoot hir 

the. 
The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce 
He mighte noght smyte al hir nekke 

a-two; 
And for ther was that tyme an ordi- 

naunce, 
That no man sholde doon man swich 

penaunce 530 

The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or sore. 
This tormentour ne dorste do na-more. 

But half-deed, with hir nekke y-corven 

there. 
He lefte hir lye, and on his wey is went. 
The Cristen folk, which that aboute hir 

were, 535 



With shetes han the blood ful faire 

y-hent. 
Thre dayes lived she in this torment, 
And never cessed hem the feith to teche; 
That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to 

preche; 

And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir 
thing, 540 

And to the pope Urban bitook hem tho. 
And seyde, ' I axed this at hevene king, 
To han respyt three dayes and na-mo, 
To recomende to yow, er that I go, 
Thise soules, lo ! and that I mighte do 
werche 545 

Here of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche.' 

Seint Urban, with his deknes, prively 
The body fette, and buried it by nighte 
Among his othere seintes honestly. 
Hir hous the chirche of seint Cecilia 

highte; 550 

Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel mighte; 
In which, into this day, in noble wyse, 
Men doon to Crist and to his seint ser- 

vyse. 



Here is etided the Seconde N'onnes Tale. 



THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S PROLOGUE. 



The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes 
Tale. 

Whan ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle, 
Er we had riden fully fyve myle, 555 

At Boghton under Blee us gan atake 
A man, that clothed was in clothes blake. 
And undernethe he hadde a whyte sur- 

plys. 
His hakeney, that was al pomely grys, 
So swatte, that it wonder was to see; 560 
It semed he had priked myles three. 
The hors eek that his yeman rood upon 
So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon. 
Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful 

hye. 
He was of fome al Hekked as a pye. 565 
A male tweyfold on his croper lay, 



It semed that he caried lyte array. 
Al light for somer rood this worthy man, 
And in myn herte wondren I bigan 
What that he was, til that I understood 
How that his cloke was sowed to his 

hood; 571 

For which, when I had longe avysed me, 
I demed him som chanon for to be. 
His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas. 
For he had riden more than trot or 

paas; 575 

He had ay priked lyk as he were wood. 
A clote-leef he hadde under his hood 
For swoot and for to kepe his heed from 

hete. 
But it was loye for to seen him swete ! 
His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, 580 
Were ful of plantain and of paritorie. 



250 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[582-661. 



And whan that he was come, he gan to 

crye, 
' God save,' quod he, * this loly com- 

panye ! 
Faste have I priked,' quod he, * for your 

sake, 
By-cause that I wolde yow atake, 585 
To ryden in this mery companye.' 
His yeman eek was ful of curteisye, 
And seyde, 'sires, now in the morwe- 

tyde 
Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde, 
And warned heer my lord and my sov- 

erayn, 590 

Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn, 
For his desport; he loveth dahaunce.' 
' Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee 

good chaunce,' 
Than seyde our host, ' for certes, it wolde 

seme 
Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel 

deme; 595 

He is ful locund also, dar I leye, 
Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye, 
With which he glade may this com- 
panye?' 
'Who, sire? my lord? ye, ye, with- 

outen lye, 
He can of murthe, and eek of lolitee 600 
Nat but ynough; also sir, trusteth me, 
And ye him knewe as wel as do I, 
Ye wolde wondre how wel and craftily 
He coude werke, and that in sondry 

wyse. 
He hath take on him many a greet em- 

pryse, 605 

Which were ful hard for any that is here 
To bringe aboute, but they of him itlere. 
As homely as he rit amonges yow, 
If ye him knewe, it wolde be for your 

prow; 609 

Ye wolde nat forgoon his aqueyntaunce 
For mochel good, I dar leye in balaunce 
Al that I have in my possessioun. 
He is a man of heigh discrecioun, 
I warne you wel, he is a passing man.' 
' Wel,' quod our host, ' I pray thee, 

tel me than, 615 

Is he a clerk, or noon? tel what he is.' 

' Nay, he is gretter than a clerk, y-wis,' 

Seyde this yeman, ' and in wordes fewe. 

Host, of his craft som-what I wol yow 

she we. 619 



I seye, my lord can swich subtilitee — 
(But al his craft ye may nat wite at me; 
And som-what helpe I yet to his werk- 

ing) — 
That al this ground on which we been 

ryding. 
Til that we come to Caunterbury toun, 
He coude al clene turne it up-so-doun. 
And pave it al of silver and of gold.' 626 
And whan this yeman hadde thus 

y-told 
Unto our host, he seyde, * benedicite ! 
This thing is wonder merveillous to me. 
Sin that thy lord is of so heigh prudence. 
By-cause of which men sholde him rever- 
ence, 631 
That of his worship rekketh he so lyte; 
His oversloppe nis nat worth a myte. 
As in effect, to him, so mote I go ! 
It is al baudy and to-tore also. 635 
Why is thy lord so sluttish, I thee preye, 
And is of power better cloth to beye. 
If that his dede accorde with thy speche? 
Telle me that, and that I thee biseche.' 
* Why ? ' quod this yeman, * wherto axe 

ye me? 640 

God help me so, for he shal never thee ! 
(But I wol nat avowe that I seye. 
And therfor kepe it secree, I yow preye), 
He is to wys, in feith, as I bileve; 
That that is overdoon, it wol nat preve 
Aright, as clerkes seyn, it is a vyce. 646 
Wherfor in that I holde him lewed and 

nyce. 
For whan a man hath over-greet a wit, 
Ful oft him happeth to misusen it; 
So dooth my lord, and that me greveth 

sore. 650 

God it amende, I can sey yow na-more.' 
'Ther-of no fors, good yeman,' quod 

our host; 

* Sin of the conning of thy lord thou 

wost, 
Tel how he dooth, I pray thee hertely, 
Sin that he is so crafty and so sly, 655 
Wher dwellen ye, if it to telle be?* 
' In the suburbes of a toun,' quod he, 

* Lurkinge in hemes and in lanes blinde, 
Wher-as thise robbours and thise theves 

by kinde 
Holden hir privee fereful residence, 660 
As they that dar nat shewen hir pres- 
ence; 



662-726.] 



G. THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



251 



So faren we, if I shal seye the sothe.' 
' Now,' quod our host, ' yit lat me talke 

to the; 
Why artow so discoloured of thy face?' 
* Peter ! ' quod he, ' god yeve it harde 

grace, 665 

I am so used in the fyr to blowe, 
That it hath chaunged my colour, I 

trowe. 
I am nat wont in no mirour to prye, 
But swinke sore and lerne multiplye. 
We blondren ever and pouren in the fyr. 
And for al that we fayle of our desyr, 671 
For ever we lakken our conclusioun. 
To mochel folk we doon illusioun, 
And borwe gold, be it a pound or two. 
Or ten, or twelve, or many sommes mo, 
And make hem wenen, at the leeste 

weye, 676 

That of a pound we coude make tweye ! 
Yet is it fals, l)ut ay we ban good hope 
It for to doon, and after it we grope. 
But that science is so fer us biforn, 680 
We movven nat, al-though v^'e hadde it 

sworn, 
It overtake, it slit awey so faste; 
It wol us maken beggers atte laste.' 
Whyl this yeman was thus in his talk- 
ing. 
This chanoun drough him neer, and herde 

al thing 685 

WHiich this yeman spak, for suspecioun 
Of mennes speche ever hadde this 

chanoun. 
For Catoun seith, that he that gilty is 
Demeth al thing be spoke of him, y-wis. 
That was the cause he gan so ny him 

drawe 690 

To his yeman, to herknen al his sawe. 

Here endeth the Prologe of the 



And thus he seyde un-to his yeman the, 
' Hold thou thy pees, and spek no wordes 

mo. 
For if thou do, thou shalt it dere abye; 
Thou sclaundrest me heer in this com- 

panye, 695 

And eek discoverest that thou sholdest 

hyde.' 
' Ye,' quod our host, ' telle on, what so 

bityde; 
Of al his threting rekke nat a myte ! ' 
* In feith,' quod he, * namore I do but 

lyte.' 
And whan this chanon saugh it wolde 

nat be, 700 

But his yeman wolde telle his privitee, 
He fledde awey for verray sorwe and 

shame. 
' A ! ' quod the yeman, ' heer shal aryse 

game, 
Al that I can anon now wol I telle. 
Sin he is goon, the foule feend him 



quelle 



705 



For never her-after wol I with him mete 
For peny ne for pound, I yow bihete ! 
He that me broghte first unto that game, 
Er that he dye, sorwe have he and 

shame ! 
For it is ernest to me, by my feith; 710 
That fele I wel, what so any man seith. 
And yet, for al my smert and al my grief, 
For al my sorwe, labour, and meschief, 
I coude never leve it in no wyse. 
Now wolde god my wit mighte suffyse 
To tellen al that longeth to that art ! 716 
But natheles yow wol I tellen part; 
Sin that my lord is gon, I wol nat spare; 
Swich thing as that I knowe, I wol de- 
clare. — 
Chanouns Yeniatmes Tale. 



THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Chanouns Ye- 
man HIS Tale. 

\_Priina parsJ] 

With this chanoun I dwelt have seven 
yeer, 720 

And of his science am I never the neer. 



Al that I hadde, I have y-lost ther-by; 
And god wot, so hath many mo than I. 
Ther I was wont to be right fresh and 

gay 

Of clothing and of other good array, 725 
Now may I were an hose upon myn 
heed; 



252 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[727-806. 



And wher my colouv was bothe fresh and 

reed, 
Now is it wan and of a leden hewe; 
Who-so it useth, sore shal he rewe. 
And of my swink yet blered is myn ye, 
Lo ! which avantage is to multiplye ! 731 
That slyding science hath me maad so 

bare. 
That I have no good, wher that ever I 

fare; 
And yet I am endetted so ther-by 
Of gold that I have borwed, trewely, 735 
That whyl I live, I shal it quyte never. 
Lat every man be war by me for ever ! 
What maner man that casteth him 

ther-to, 
If he continue, I holde his thrift y-do. 
So helpe me god, ther-by shal he nat 

winne, 740 

But empte his purs, and make his wittes 

thinne. 
And whan he, thurgh his madnes and 

folye. 
Hath lost his owene good thurgh lu- 

partye, 
Thanne he excyteth other folk ther-to, 
To lese hir good as he him-self hath do. 
For unto shrewes loye it is and ese 746 
To have hir felawes in peyne and dis- 

ese; 
Thus was I ones lerned of a clerk. 
Of that no charge, 1 wol speke of our 

werk. 
"Whan we been ther as we shul exer- 

cyse 750 

Our elvish craft, we semen wonder wyse. 
Our termes been so clergial and so 

queynte. 
I blowe the fyr til that myn herte feynte. 

"What sholde T tellen ech proporcioun 
Of thinges whiche that we werche upon. 
As on tive or sixe ounces, may wel be. 
Of silver or som other quantite, 757 

And bisie me to telle yow the names 
Of orpiment, brent bones, yren squames, 
That into poudre grounden been ful 

smal? 760 

And in an erthen potte how put is al. 
And salt y-put in, and also papeer, 
Biforn thise poudres that I speke of 

heer, 
And wel y-covered with a lampe of glas, 



And mochel other thing which that ther 

was ? 765 

And of the pot and glasses enluting, 
That of the eyre mighte passe out no^ 

thing? 
And of the esy fyr and smart also, 
Which that was maad, and of the care 

and wo 
That we hadde in our matires sublyming. 
And in amalgaming and calcening 771 
Of quik-silver, y-clept Mercuric crude? 
For alle our sleightes we can nat con- 
clude. 
Our orpiment and sublymed Mercuric, 
Our grounden litarge eek on the por- 

phurie, 775 

Of ech of thise of ounces a certeyn 
Nought helpeth us, our labour is in veyn. 
Ne eek our spirites ascencioun, 
Ne our materes that lyen al fixe adoun, 
Mowe in our werking no-thing us avayle. 
For lost is al our labour and travayle, 781 
And al the cost, a twenty devel weye, 
Is lost also, which we upon it leye. 

Ther is also ful many another thing 
That is unto our craft apertening; 785 
Though I by ordre hem nat reherce 

can. 
By-cause that I am a lewed man. 
Yet wol I telle hem as they come to 

minde. 
Though I ne can nat sette hem in hir 

kinde; 
As bole armoniak, verdegrees, boras, 790 
And sondry vessels maad of erthe and 

glas, 
Our urinales and our descensories, 
Violes, croslets, and sublymatories, 
Cucurbites, and alembykes eek, 794 

And othere swiche, dere y-nough a leek. 
Nat nedeth it for to reherce hem alle, 
Watres rubifying and boles galle, 
Arsenik, sal armoniak, and brimstoon; 
And herbes coude I telle eek many oon. 
As egremoine, valerian, and lunarie, 800 
And othere swiche, if that me liste tarie. 
Our lampes brenning bothe night and day, 
To bringe aboute our craft, if that we 

may. 
Our fourneys eek of calcinacioun, 
And of watres albificacioun, 805 

Unslekked lym, chalk, and gleyre of an 



807-890.] 



G. THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



253 



Poudres diverse, asshes, dong, pisse, and 

cley, 
Cered pokets, sal peter, vitriole; 
And divers fyres maad of vvode and cole; 
Sal tartre, alkaly, and sal preparat, 810 
And combust materes and coagulat, 
Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, 

and oile 
Of tartre, alum, glas, berm, wort, and 

argoile, 
Resalgar, and our materes enbibing ; 
And eek of our materes encorporing, 815 
And of our silver citrinacioun. 
Our cementing and fermentacioun. 
Our ingottes, testes, and many mo. 

I wol yow telle, as was me taught also. 
The foure spirites and the bodies sevene, 
By ordre, as ofte 1 herde my lord hem 

nevene. 821 

The first spirit quik-silver called is. 
The second orpiment, the thridde, y-wds, 
Sal armoniak, and the ferthe brimstoon. 
The bodies sevene eek, lo ! hem heer 

anoon : 825 

Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe. 
Mars yren. Mercuric quik-silver we clepe, 
Saturnus leed, and lupiter is tin. 
And Venus coper, by my fader kin ! 

This cursed craft who-so wol exercyse. 
He shal no good hau that him may 

suffyse; 831 

For al the good he spendeth ther-aboute, 
He lese shal, ther-of have I no doute. 
Who-so that listeth outen his folye, 
Lat him come forth, and lerne multiplye; 
And every man that oght hath in his 

cofre, 836 

Lat him appere, and wexe a philosofre. 
Ascaunce that craft is so light to lere? 
Nay, nay, god woot, al be he monk or frere, 
Freest or chanoun, or any other wight. 
Though he sitte at his book bothe day 

and night, 841 

In lernyng of this elvish nyce lore, 
Al is in veyn, and parde, mochel more ! 
To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee, 844 
Fy ! spek nat ther-of, for it wol nat be; 
Al conne he letterure, or conne he noon, 
As in effect, he shal finde it al oon. 
For bother two, by my savacioun, 
Concluden, in multiplicacioun, 
Y-lyke wel, whan they han al y-do; 850 
This is to seyn, they faylen bothe two. 



Yet forgat I to maken rehersaille 
Of watres corosif and of limaille, 
And of bodyes moUihcacioun, 
And also of hir induracioun, 855 

Oiles, ablucions, and metal fusible, 
To tellen al wolde passen any bible 
That o-wher is; wherfor, as for the 

beste, 
Of alle thise names now wol I me reste. 
For, as I trowe, I have yow told y-nowe 
To reyse a feend, al loke he never so 

rowe. 861 

A! nay! lat be; the philosophres 

stoon, 
Elixir clept, we sechen faste echoon; 
For hadde we him, than were we siker 

y-now. 864 

But, unto god of heven I make avow, 
P^or al our craft, whan we han al y-do, 
And al our sleighte, he wol nat come us 

to. 
He hath y-maad us spenden mochel good, 
For sorwe of which almost we wexen 

wood, 869 

But that good hope crepeth in our herte, 
Supposinge ever, though we sore smerte. 
To be releved by him afterward; 
Swich supposing and hope is sharp and 

hard; 
I warne yow wel, it is to seken ever; 
That futur temps hath maad men to dis- 
sever. 
In trust ther-of, from al that ever they 

hadde. 876 

Yet of that art they can nat wexen sadde, 
For unto hem it is a bitter swete ; 
So semeth it; for nadde they but a shete 
Which that they mighte wrappe hem inne 

a-night, 880 

And a bak to walken inne by day-light. 
They wolde hem selle and spenden on 

this craft; 
They can nat stinte til no-thing be laft. 
And evermore, wher that ever they goon, 
Men may hem knowe by smel of brim- 
stoon; 885 
For al the world, they stinken as a goot; 
Her savour is so rammish and so hoot, 
That, though a man from hem a myle be, 
The savour wol infecte him, trusteth 

me; 
Lo, thus by smelling and threedbare 

array, 890 



254 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[891-961. 



If that men liste, this folk they knowe 

may. 
And if a man wol aske hem prively, 
Why they been clothed so unthriftily, 
They right anon wol rownen in his ere, 
And seyn, that if that they espyed were, 
Men wolde hem slee, by-cause of hir 

science; 896 

Lo, thus this folk bitrayen innocence ! 
Passe over this; I go my tale un-to. 
Er than the pot be on the fyr y-do, 
Of metals with a certein quantite, 900 
My lord hem tempreth, and no man but 

he — 
Now he is goon, I dar seyn boldely — 
For, as men seyn, he can don craftily; 
Algate I woot wel he hath swich a 

name. 
And yet ful oft he renneth in a blame; 
And wite ye how? ful ofte it happeth 

so, 906 

The pot to-breketh, and farewel ! al is 

go! 
Thise metals been of so greet violence, 
Our walles mowe nat make hem resist- 

ence. 
But if they weren wroght of lym and 

stoon; 910 

They percen so, and thurgh the wal 

they goon, 
And somme of hem sinken in-to the 

ground — 
Thus han we lost by tymes many a 

pound — 
And somme are scatered al the floor 

aboute, 
Somme lepe in-to the roof; with-outen 

doute, 915 

Though that the feend noght in our 

sighte him shewe, 
I trowe he with us be, that ilke shrewe ! 
In helle wher that he is lord and sire, 
Nis ther more wo, ne more rancour ne 

ire. 
Whan that our pot is broke, as I have 

sayd, 920 

Every man chit, and halt him yvel 

apayd. 
Som seyde, it was long on the fyr- 

making, 
Som seyde, nay ! it was on the blowing; 
(Than was 1 fered, for that was myn 

office) ; 



* Straw ! ' quod the thridde, ' ye been 

lewed and nyce, 925 

It was nat tempred as it oghte be.' 

* Nay ! ' quod the ferthe, ' stint, and 

herkne me; 
By-cause our fyr ne was nat maad of 

beech, 
That is the cause, and other noon, so 

theech ! ' 
I can nat telle wher-on it was long, 930 
But wel I wot greet stryf is us among. 
' What ! ' quod my lord, ' ther is na- 

more to done. 
Of thise perils I wol be war eft-sone; 
I am right siker that the pot was erased. 
Be as be may, be ye no-thing amased; 
As usage is, lat swepe the floor as 

swythe, 936 

Pluldvc up your hertes, and beth gladde 

and blythe.' 
The mullok on an hepe y-sweped was, 
And on the floor y-cast a canevas, 939 
And al this mullok in a sive y-throwe. 
And sifted, and y-piked many a throwe. 
' Pardee,' quod con, ' somwhat of our 

metal 
Yet is ther heer, though that we han nat 

al. 
Al-though this thing mishapped have 

as now, 
Another tyme it may be wel y-now, 945 
Us moste putte our good in aventure; 
A marchant, parde ! may nat ay endure, 
Trusteth me wel, in his prosperitee; 
Somtyme his good is drenched in the 

see. 
And somtym comth it sauf un-to the 

londe.' 950 

' Pees ! ' quod my lord, ' the next tyme 

I wol foiule 
To bringe oiir craft al in another plyte; 
And but I do, sirs, lat me haii the wyte; 
Ther was defaute in som-what, wel I 

woot.' 
Another seyde, the fyr was over 

hoot:— 955 

But, be it hoot or cold, 1 dar seye this. 
That we concluden evermore amis. 
We fayle of that which that we wolden 

have. 
And in our madnesse evermore we rave. 
And whan we been togidres everichoon, 
Every man semeth a Salomon. 961 



962-1032.] 



G. THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



255 



But al thing which that shyneth as the 

gold 
Nis nat gold, as that I have herd it 

told; 
Ne every appel that is fair at ye 
Ne is nat good, what-so men clappe or 

crye. 965 

Right so, lo ! fareth it amonges us; 
He that semeth the wysest, by lesus ! 
Is most fool, whan it cometh to the 

preef; 
And he that semeth trewest is a theef; 
That shul ye knowe, er that I fro yow 

wende, 970 

By that I of my tale have maad an ende. 

Explicit pri^na pars. Et sequitur pars 
secunda, 

Ther is a chanoun of religioun 
Amonges us, wolde infecte al a toun 
Though it as greet were as was Ninivee, 
Rome, Alisaundre, Troye, and othere 

three. 975 

His sleightes and his infinit falsnesse 
Ther coude no man wryten, as I gesse, 
Thogh that he mighte liven a thousand 

yeer. 
In al this world of falshede nis his 

peer; 
For in his termes so he wolde him 

winde, 980 

And speke his wordes in so sly a kinde, 
Whan he commune shal with any wight, 
That he wol make him doten anon right. 
But it a feend be, as him-selven is. 984 
Ful many a man hath he bigyled er this, 
And wol, if that he live may a whyle; 
And yet men ryde and goon ful many a 

myle 
Him for to seke and have his aqueynt- 

aunce, 
Noght knowinge of his false gover- 

naunce. 
And if yow list to yeve me audience, 990 
I wol it tellen heer in your presence. 
But worshipful chanouns religious, 
Ne demeth nat that I sclaundre your 

hous, 
Al-though my tale of a chanoun be. 
Of every ordre som shrewe is, parde, 995 
And god forbede that al a companye 
Sholde rewe a singuler mannes folye. 



To sclaundre yow is no-thing myn 

entente, 
But to correcten that is mis I mente. 
This tale was nat only told for yow, 1000 
But eek for othere mo; ye woot wel 

how 
That, among Cristes apostelles twelve, 
Ther nas no traytour but ludas him- 

selve. 
Than why sholde al the remenant have 

blame 
That giltlees were? by yow I seye the 

same. 1005 

Save only this, if ye wol herkne me, 
If any ludas in your covent be, 
Remeveth him bitymes, I yow rede. 
If shame or los may causen any drede. 
And beth no-thing displesed, I yow 

preye, loio 

But in this cas herkneth what I shal seye. 

In London was a preest, an annue- 

leer. 
That therin dwelled hadde many a 

yeer, 1014 

Which was so plesaunt and so servisable 
Unto the wyf, wher-as he was at table. 
That she wolde suffre him no-thing for 

to paye 
For bord ne clothing, wente he never 

so gaye; 
And spending-silver hadde he right 

y-now. 1018 

Therof no fors; I wol procede as now. 
And telle forth my tale of the chanoun, 
That broghte this preest to confusioun. 
This false chanoun cam up-on a day 
Unto this preestes chambre, wher he 

lay, 
Biseching him to lene him a certeyn 
Of gold, and he wolde quyte it him 

ageyn. 1025 

' Lene me a mark,* quod. he, *but dayes 

three. 
And at my day I wol it quyten thee. 
And if so be that thou me finde fals, 
Another day do hange me by the hals ! ' 
This preest him took a mark, and that 

a swysthe, 1030 

And this chanoun him thanked ofte 

sylhe, 
And took his leve, and wente forth his 

weye, 



256 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[103 3-110^ 

to meschidH 
ssimulinge !^B 



And at the thridde day broghte his 

moneye, 
And to the preest he took his gold 

agayn, 
Wherof this preest was wonder glad and 

fayn. 1035 

' Certes,' quod he, ' no-thing anoyeth 

me 
To lene a man a noble, or two or three. 
Or what thing were in my possessioun, 
Whan he so trewe is of condicioun, 1039 
That in no wyse he breke wol his day; 
To swich a man I can never seye nay.' 
' What ! ' quod this chanoun, * sholde 

I be untrewe? 
Nay, that were thing y-fallen al of-newe. 
Trouthe is a thing that I wol ever kepe 
Un-to that day in which that I shal 

crepe 1045 

In-to my grave, and elles god forbede; 
Bileveth this as siker as is your crede. 
God thanke I, and in good tyme be it 

sayd, 1048 

That ther was never man yet yvel apayd 
For gold ne silver that he to me lente, 
Ne never falshede in myn herte I mente. 
And sir,' quod he, 'now of my privetee, 
Sin ye so goodlich han been un-to me, 
And kythed to me so greet gentilless^, 
Somwhat to quyte with your kindenesse, 
I wol yow shewe, and, if yow list to lere, 
1 wol yow teche pleynly the manere, 1057 
How I can werken in philosophye. 
Takeih good heed, ye shul wel seen at 

ye, 

That I wol doon a maistrie er I go.' 1060 

* Ye,' quod the preest, ' ye, sir, and wol 

ye so ? 
Marie ! ther-of I pray yow hertely ! ' 

* At your comandement, sir, trewely,' 
Quod the chanoun, ' and elles god for- 
bede ! ' 

Lo, how this theef coude his servyse 
bede ! 1065 

Ful sooth it is, that swich profred ser- 
vyse 
Stinketh, as witnessen thise olde wyse; 
And that ful sone I wol it verifye 
In this chanoun, rote of al trecherye, 
That ever-more delyt hath and glad- 
nesse — 1070 

Swich feendly thoughtes in his herte im- 
presse — 



How Cristes peple he may to meschi 

bringe; 
God kepe us from his fals dissimulinge 
Noght wiste this preest with whom 

that he delte, 
Ne of his harm cominge he no-thing 

felte. 1075 

O sely preest ! O sely innocent ! 
With coveityse anon thou shalt be blent ! 
O gracelees, ful blind is thy conceit. 
No-thing ne artow war of the deceit 
Which that this fox y-shapen hath to 

thee ! 1080 

His vvyly wrenches thou ne mayst nat 

flee 
Wherfor, to go to the conclusioun 
That refereth to thy confusioun, 
Unhappy man ! anon I wol me hye 
To tellen thyn unwit and thy folye, 1085 
And eek the falsnesse of that other 

wrecche. 
As ferforth as that my conning may 

strecche. 
This chanoun was my lord, ye wolden 

wene? 
Sir host, in feith, and by the hevenes 

quene, 
It was another chanoun, and nat he, 1090 
That can an hundred fold more subtiltee ! 
He hath bitrayed folkes many tyme; 
Of his falshede it duUeth me to ryme. 
Ever whan that I speke of his falshede. 
For shame of him my chekes wexen 

rede; 1095 

Algates, they biginnen for to glowe. 
For reednesse have I noon, right wel I 

knowe. 
In my visage; for fumes dyverse 
Of metals, which ye han herd me re- 

herce. 
Consumed and wasted han my reednesse. 
Now tak heed of this chanouns cursed- 

nesse ! i loi 

' Sir,' quod he to the preest, * lat your 

man gon 
For quik-silver, that we it hadde anon; 
And lat him bringen ounces two or 

three; 
And whan he comth, as faste shul ye see 
A wonder thing, which saugh never er 

this.' 1 106 

' Sir,' quod the preest, * it shal be doon, 

y-wis.' 



;io8-ii82.] G. THE CMANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



257 



He bad his servant fecchen him this 

thing, 
And he al redy was at his bidding, 
And wente him forth, and cam anon 

agayn mo 

With this quik-silver, soothly for to sayn. 
And took thise ounces three to the chan- 

oun; 
And he hem leyde fayre and wel adoun, 
And bad the servant coles for to bringe, 
That he anon mighte go to his werk- 

inge. 1 1 15 

The coies right anon weren y-fet, 
And this chanoun took out a crosselet 
Of his bosom, and shewed it the preest. 
' This instrument,' quod he, ' which that 

thou seest, 
Tak in thyn hand, and put thy-self ther- 

inne 1 120 

Of this quik-silver an ounce, and heer 

biginne, 
In the name of Crist, to wexe a philoso- 

fre. 
Ther been ful fewe, whiche that I wolde 

profre 
To shewen hem thus muche of my 

science. 
For ye shul seen heer, by experience, 
That this quik-silver wol I mortifye 1126 
Right in your sighte anon, withouten 

lye, 
And make it as good silver and as fyn 
As ther is any in your purs or myn, 
Or elleswher, and make it malliable; 1 1 30 
And elles, holdeth me fais and unable 
Amonges folk for ever to appere ! 
I have a poudre heer, that coste me dere, 
Shal make al good, for it is cause of al 
My conning, which that I yow shewen 

shal. 1 135 

Voydeth your man, and lat him be ther- 

oute, 
And shet the dore, whyls we been aboute 
Our privetee, that no man us espye 
Whyls that we werke in this philoso- 

phye.' 
Al as he bad, fulfilled was in dede, 1 140 
This ilke servant anon-right out yede. 
And his maister shette the dore anon. 
And to hir labour speedily they gon. 
This preest, at this cursed chanouns 

bidding, 
Up-on the fyr anon sette this thing, 1145 



And blew the fyr, and bisied him ful 

faste ; 
And this chanoun in-to the croslet caste 
A poudre, noot 1 wher-of that it was 
Y-maad, other of chalk, other of glas, 
Or som-what elles, was nat worth a flye, 
To blynde with the preest; and bad him 

hye 1151 

The coles for to couchen al above 
The croslet, ' for, in tokening I thee 

love,' 
Quod this chanoun, ' thyn owene hondes 

two 
Shul werche al thing which that shal 

heer be do.' 1155 

' Graunt mercy,' quod the preest, and 

was ful glad. 
And couched coles as the chanoun bad. 
And whyle he bisy was, this feendly 

wrecche. 
This fals chanoun, the foule feend him 

fecche ! 
Out of his bosom took a bechen cole, 1 160 
In which ful subtilly was maad an hole. 
And ther-in put was of silver lymaille 
An ounce, and stopped was, with-outen 

fayle. 
The hole with wex, to kepe the lymail in. 
And understondeth, that this false 

gin 1 1 65 

Was nat maad ther, but it was maad 

bifore; 
And othere thinges I shal telle more 
Herafterward, which that he with him 

broghte; 
Er he cam ther, him to bigyle he thoghte, 
And so he dide, er that they wente 

a-twinne; 11 70 

Til he had terved him, coude he not 

blinne. 
It dulleth me whan that I of him speke, 
On his falshede fayn wolde I me wreke, 
If I wiste how; but he is heer and ther : 
He is so variaunt, he abit no-wher. 1 1 75 
But taketh heed now, sirs, for goddes 

love ! 
He took his cole of which I spak above, 
And in his bond he baar it priveiy. 
And whyls the preest couchede busily 
The coles, as I tolde yow er this, 1180 
This chanoun seyde, * freend, ye doon 

amis; 
This is nat couched as it oghte be; 



258 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[i 183-1255, 



But sonc I shal amenden it,' quod he. 

' Now lat me medle therwith but a whyle, 

For of yow have I pitee, by seint 
Gyle! 1185 

Ye been right hoot, I see wel how ye 
swete, 

Have heer a cloth, and wype awey the 
wete.' 

And vvhyles that the preest wyped his 
face, 

This chanoun took his cole with harde 
grace. 

And leyde it above, up-on the midde- 
ward 1 190 

Of the croslet, and blew wel afterward, 

Til that the coles gonne faste brenne. 
* Now yeve us drinl^e,' quod the chan- 
oun thenne, 

* As swythe al shal be wel, I undertake; 

Sitte we doun, and lat us mcry 
make.' 1195 

And whan that this chanounes bechen 
cole 

Was brent, al the lymaille, out of the 
hole. 

Into the croslet fil anon adoun; 

And so it moste nedes, by resoun, 

Sin it so even aboven couched was; 1200 

But ther-of wiste the preest no-thing, 
alas! 

He demed alle the coles y-liche good. 

For of the sleighte he no-thing under- 
stood. 

And whan this alkamistre saugh his tyme, 

' Rys up,' quod he, * sir preest, and stond- 
eth by me; 1205 

And for I woot wel ingot have ye noon, 

Goth, walketh forth, and bring us a chalk- 
stoon; 

For I wol make oon of the same shap 

That is an ingot, if I may han hap. 

And bringeth eek with yow a boUe or a 
panne, 1210 

Ful of water, and ye shul see wel thanne 

How that our bisinesse shal thryve and 
preve. 

And yet, for ye shul han no misbileve 

Ne wrong conceit of me in your absence, 

I ne wol nat been out of your pres- 
ence, 1 215 

But go with yow, and come with yow 
ageyn.' 

The chambre-dore, shortly for to seyn, 



They opened and shette, and wente hir 

weye. 
And forth with hem they carieden the 

keye, 12 19 

And come agayn with-outen any delay. 
What sholde I tarien al the longe day? 
He took the chalk, and shoop it in the 

wyse 
Of an ingot, as I shal yow devyse. 

I seye, he took out of his owene sieve, 
A teyne of silver (yvele mote he 

cheve!) 1225 

Which that ne was nat but an ounce of 

weighte; 
And taketh heed now of his cursed 

sleighte ! 
He shoop his ingot, in lengthe and eek 

in brede. 
Of this teyne, with-outen any drede, 1229 
So slyly, that the preest it nat espyde; 
And in his sieve agayn he gan it hyde; 
And fro the fyr he took up his matere. 
And in thingot putte it with mery chcre, 
And in the water-vessel he it caste 
Whan that him luste, and bad the preest 

as faste, 1235 

* Look what ther is, put in thyn hand and 

grope, 
Thow fmde shalt ther silver, as I hope; 
What, devel of helle ! sholde it elles be? 
Shaving of silver silver is, pardee ! ' 
He putte his hond in, and took up a 

teyne i 240 

Of silver fyn, and glad in every veyne 
Was this preest, whan he saugh that it 

was so. 

* Goddes blessing, and his modres also, 
And alle halwes have ye, sir chanoun,' 
Seyde this preest, *and I hir mali- 

soun, 1245 

But, and ye vouche-sauf to techen me 
This noble craft and this subtilitee, 
I wol be youre, in al that ever I may ! ' I 
Quod the chanoun, ' yet wol I make 1 

assay 
The second tyme, that ye may taken 

hede 1250 

And been expert of this, and in your 

nede 
Another day a;!saye in myn absence 
This disciplyne and this crafty science. 
Lat take anotner ounce,' quod he tho, 

* Of quik-silver, with-outen wordes mo, 



1256-1328.] G. THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



259 



And do ther-with as ye han doon er this 

With that other, which that now silver is.' 

This preest him bisieth in al that he 

can 
To doon as this chanoun, this cursed man, 
Comanded him, and faste he blew the 

fyr, 1260 

For to come to theffect of his desyr. 
And this chanoun, right in the mene 

whyle, 
Al redy was, the preest eft to bigyle, 
And, for a countenance, in his hande he 

bar 1264 

An holwe stikke (tak keep and be war !) 
In the ende of which an ounce, and na- 

more, 
Of silver lymail put was, as bifore 
Was in his cole, and stopped with wex 

weel 
For to kepe in his lymail every deel. 
And whyl this preest was in his bisi- 

nesse, 1270 

This chanoun with his stikke gan him 

dresse 
To him anon, and his pouder caste in 
As he did er; (the devel out of his skin 
Him terve, I pray to god, for his fals- 

hede; 
For he was ever fals in thoght and 

dede); 1275 

And with this stikke, above the croslet. 
That was ordeyned with that false get, 
He stired the coles, til relente gan 
The wex agayn the fyr, as every man. 
But it a fool be, woot wel it mot nede, 1 280 
And al that in the stikke was out yede. 
And in the croslet hastily it fel. 

Now gode sirs, what wol ye bet than 

wel? 
Whan that this preest thus was bigyled 

ageyn, 
Supposing noght but trouthe, soth to 

seyn, 1285 

He was so glad, that I can nat expresse 
In no manere his mirthe and his glad- 

nesse; 
And to the chanoun he profred eftsone 
Body and good; *ye,' quod the chanoun 

sone, 
* Though povre I be, crafty thou shalt me 

finde; I 290 

I warne thee, yet is ther more bihinde. 
Is ther any coper her-inne?' seyde he. 



' Ye,' quod the preest, * sir, I trowe wel 

ther be.' 
* Elles go by us som, and that as swythe, 
Now, gode sir, go forth thy wey and hy 

the.' 1295 

He wente his wey, and with the coper 

cam. 
And this chanoun it in his handes nam, 
And of that coper weyed out but an 

ounce. 
Al to simple is my tonge to pronounce, 
As ministre of my wit, the double- 

nesse 1300 

Of this chanoun, rote of al cursednesse. 
He senied freendly to hem that knewe 

him noght. 
But he was feendly bothe in herte and 

thoght. 
It werieth me to telle of his falsnesse, 
And nathelees yet wol I it expresse, 1305 
To thentente that men may be war therby. 
And for noon other cause, trewely. 
He putte his ounce of coper in the 

croslet, 
And on the fyr as swythe he hath it set, 
And caste in poudre, and made the preest 

to blowe, 1 3 10 

And in his werking for to stoupe lowe. 
As he dide er, and al nas but a Tape; 
Right as him liste, the preest he made 

his ape; 
And afterward in the ingot he it caste. 
And in the panne putte it at the 

laste 1 31 5 

Of water, and in he putte his owene 

bond. 
And in his sieve (as ye biforn-hond 
Herde me telle) he hadde a silver teyne. 
He slyly took it out, this cursed heyne — 
Unwiting this preest of his false 

craft — 1320 

And in the pannes botme he hath it 

laft; 
And in the water rombled to and fro, 
And wonder prively took up also 
The coper teyne, noght knowing this 

preest. 
And hidde it, and him hente by the 

breest, 1325 

And to him spak, and thus seyde in his 

game, 
'Stoupeth adoun,by god, ye be to blame, 
Helpeth me now, as I dide yow whyl-er. 



26o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1 329-1 396. 



Putte in your hand, and loketh what is 

ther.' 
This preest took up this silver teyne 

anon, 1330 

And thannc scyde the chanoun, ' lat us 

gon 
With thise three teynes, which that we 

han wroght. 
To S(jm goldsmith, and wite if they been 

oght. 
For, by my feith, I nolde, for myn hood, 
But-if that they were silver, fyn and 

good, 1335 

And that as swythe preved shal it be.' 
Un-to the goldsmith with thise teynes 

three 
They wcnte, and putte thise teynes in 

assay 
To fyr and hamer; mighte no man sey 

nay, 
But that they weren as hem oghte 

be. 1 340 

This sotted preest, who was gladder 

than he? 
"Was never l)rid gladder agayn the day, 
Ne nightingale, in the sesoun of May, 
Nas never noon that luste bet to singe; 
Ne lady lustier in carolinge 1345 

Or for to speke of love and womman- 

hede, 
Ne knight in armes to doon an hardy 

dede 
To stonile in grace of his lady dere, 
Than had this preest this sory craft to 

lere; 
And to the chanoun thus he spak and 

seyde, 1 350 

' For love of god, that for us alle deyde, 
And as I may deserve it un-to vow. 
What shal this receit coste? tellcth 

now ! ' 
' By our lady,' quod this chanoun, * it is 

dere, 
I warne yow wel; for, save I and a 

frere, 1355 

In Engelond ther can no man it make.' 
' No fors,' quod he, ' now, sir, for goddcs 

sake, 
What shal I paye? telleth me, I preye.' 

* Y-wis,' (|U()d he, ' it is ful dere, I seye; 
Sir, at o word, if tliat thee list it have, 1 360 
Ye shul paye fourty pound, so god me 

save! 



And, nere the freendship that ye dide er 

this 
To me, ye sholde paye more, y-wis.' 
This preest the somme of fourty pound 

anon 
Of nobles fette, and took hem ever- 

ichon 1365 ; 

To this chanoun, for this ilke receit; 
Al his werking nas but fraude and I 

deceit. 

* Sir preest,' he seyde, ' I kepe han no 

loos 
Of my craft, fo** I wolde it kept were 

cloos; 
And as ye love me, kepcth it secree; 1370 
For, and men knewe al my subtilitee. 
By god, they wolden han so greet envye 
To me, ]:)y-cause of my philosophye, 
I sholde be deed, ther were non other 

weye.' 
.' God it forbede ! ' quod the preest, 

'what sey ye?' 1375 

Yet hachle I lever spenden al the good 
Which that I have (and elles wexe I 

wood ! ) 
Than that ye sholden falle in swich mes- 

cheef.' 

* For your good wil, sir, Imve yo right 

good preef,' 
Quod the chanoun, ' and far-wel, grant 

mercy!' 1380 

He wente his wey and never the preest 

him sy 
After that day; and whan that this preest 

sholde 
Maken assay, at swich tyme as he wolde, 
Of this receit, far-wel ! it wolde nat be ! 
Lo,thus byiai)ed and liigyled was he ! 1 385 
Thus maketh he his introduccioun 
To bringe folk to hir dcstiuccioun. — 

Considereth, sirs, how that, in ech es- 

taat, 
Bitwixe men and gold ther is debaat 
So ferforth, that unnethes is ther 

noon. 1390 

This multiplying blent so many oon, 
That in good feith I trowe that it be 
The cause grettest of swich scarsetee. 
Philosophres speken so mistily 
In this craft, that men can nat com< 

therby, 139^ 

For any wit that men han now a-dayes. 



[397-H73-] G. THE CHANOUNS YEMANNES TALE. 



261 



They mowe wel chiteren, as doon thise 

layes, 
And in her termes sette hir lust and 

peyne, 
But to hit- purpos shul they never atteyne, 
A man may Hghtly lerne, if he have 

aught, 1400 

To multiplye, and bringe his good to 

naught ! 
Lo ! swich a lucre is in this lusty game, 
A mannes mirthe it wol torne un-to 

grame, 
And enipten also grete and hevy purses, 
And maken folk for to purchasen 

curses 1405 

Of hem, that han hir good therto y-lent. 
O ! f y ! for shame ! they that han been 

brent. 
Alias! can they nat flee the fyres hete? 
Ye that it use, I rede ye it lete. 
Lest ye lese al ; for bet than never is 

late. 1410 

Never to thryve were to long a date. 
Though ye proUe ay, ye shul it never 

finde; 
Ye been as bolde as is Bayard the blinde, 
That blundreth forth, and peril casteth 

noon; 
He is as bold to renne agayn a stoon 141 5 
As for to goon besydes in the weye. 
So faren ye that multiplye, I seye. 
If that your yen can nat seen aright, 
Loke that your minde lakke nought his 

sight. 
For, though ye loke never so brode, and 

stare, 1420 

Ye shul nat winne a myte on that chaf- 

fare. 
But vvasten al that ye may rape and renne. 
Withdrawe the fyr, lest it to faste brenne; 
Medleth na-more with that art, I mene. 
For, if ye doon, your thrift is goon ful 

clene. 1425 

And right as swythe I wol yow tellen 

here. 
What philosophres seyn in this matere. 
Lo, thus seith Arnold of the Newe 

Toun, 
As his Rosarie makcth mencioun; 
He seith right thus, vvith-outen any 

lye, 1430 

*Ther may no man Mercuric niortifye. 
But it be w ith his brother knovvleching. 



How that he, which that first seyde this 

thing. 
Of philosophres fader was, Hermes; 
He seith, how that the dragoun, doute- 

lees, 1435 

Ne deyeth nat, but-if that he be slayn 
With his brother; and that is for to sayn. 
By the dragoun, Mercuric and noon other 
He understood; and brimstoon by his 

brother, 
That out of sol and luna were y-drawe. 
And therfor,' seyde he, ' tak heed to my 

sawe, 1 44 1 

Let no man bisy him this art for to seche, 
But-if that he thentencioun and speche 
Of philosophres understonde can; 
And if he do, he is a lewed man. 1445 
For this science and this conning,' quod 

he, 

* Is of the secree of secrees, parde.' 

Also ther was a disciple of Plato, 
That on a tyme seyde his maister to. 
As his book Senior wol here witnesse. 
And this was his demande in soothfast- 
nesse : 1451 

* Tel me the name of the privy stoon? ' 

And Plato answerde unto him anoon, 
*Tak the stoon that Titanos men name.' 
' Which is that? ' quod he. * Magnesia 
is the same,' 1455 

Seyde Plato. * Ye, sir, and is it thus? 
This is ignohim per ignotius. 
What is Magnesia, good sir, I yow 
preye?' 
' It is a water that is maad, I seye, 
Of elementes foure,' quod Plato. 1460 
' Tel me the rote, good sir,' quod he tho, 
'Of that water, if that it be your wille? ' 
'Nay, nay,' quod Plato, ' certe in, that I 
nille. 
The philosophres sworn were everichoon, 
That they sholden discovere it un-to 
noon, 1465 

Ne in no book it wryte in no manere; 
For un-to Crist it is so leef and dere 
That he wol nat that it discovered be. 
But wher it lyketh to his deitee 
Man for tenspyre, and eek for to defende 
Whom that him lyketh; lo, this is the 
ende.' 1471 

Thanne conclude I thus; sith god of 
hevene 
Ne wol nat that the philosophres nevene 



262 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1474-1481. 1-49. 



How that a man shal come un-to this 

stoon, 
I rede, as for the beste, lete it goon. 1475 
For who-so maketh god his adversarie, 
As for to werken any thing in contrarie 



Of his wil, certes, never shal he thryve, 
Thogh that he multiplye terme of his lyve. 
And ther a poynt; for ended is my tale; 
God sende every trewe man bote of his 
bale! — Amen. 1481 



Here is ended the Chanouns Yemannes Tale. 



GROUP H. 
THE MANCIPLE'S PROLOGUE. 



Here folweih the Prologe of the Maun- 
ciples Tale. 

WiTE ye nat wher ther stant a litel toun 
Which that y-cleped is Bob-up-and-doun, 
Under the Blee, in Caunterbury weye? 
Ther gan our hoste for to lape and pleye, 
And seyde, * sirs, what ! Dun is in the 

myre ! 5 

Is ther no man, for preyere ne for hyre, 
That wol awake our felawe heer bihinde? 
A theef mighte him ful lightly robbe and 

binde. 
See how he nappeth ! see, for cokkes 

bones, 
As he wol falle from his hors at ones. 10 
Is that a cook of Londoun, with mes- 

chaunce? 
Do him come forth, he knoweth his pen- 

aunce, 
For he shal telle a tale, by my fey ! 
Al-though it be nat worth a botel hey. 
Awake, thju cook,' quod he, 'god yeve 

thee sorwe, 15 

"What eyleth thee to slepe by the morwe? 
Hastow had fleen al night, or artow 

dronke. 
Or hastow with som quene al night 

y-swonke. 
So that thou mayst nat holden up thyn 

heed?' 
This cook, that was ful pale and no- 
thing reed, 20 
Seyde to our host, ' so god my soule 

blesse. 
As ther is falle on me swich hevinesse, 
Noot I nat why, that me were lever slepe 
Than the beste galoun wyn in Chepe.' 



* Wei,' quod the maunciple, *if it may 
doon ese 25 

To thee, sir cook, and to no wight dis- 
plese 

Which that heerrydethin this companye. 

And that our host wol, of his curteisye, 

I wol as now excuse thee of thy tale; 

For, in good feith, thy visage is ful pale, 

Thyn yen daswen eek, as that me think- 
eth, 31 

And wel I woot, thy breeth ful soure 
stinketh, 

That sheweth wel thou art not wel dis- 
posed ; 

Of me, certein, thou shalt nat been 
y-glosed. 

Se how he ganeth, lo, this dronken wight, 

As though he wolde us swolwe anon- 
right. 36 

Hold cloos thy mouth, man, by thy fadei 
kin! 

The devel of helle sette his foot ther-in ! 

Thy cursed breeth infecte wol us alle; 

Fy, stinking swyn, fy ! foule moot thee 
falle ! 40 

A ! taketh heed, sirs, of this lusty man. 

Now, swete sir, wol ye lusten atte fan? 

Ther-to me thinketh ye been wel y- 
shape ! 

I trowe that ye dronken han wyn ape, 

And that is whan men pleyen with a 
straw.' 45 

Aud with this speche the cook wex 
wrooth and wraw, 

And on the maunciple he gan nodde faste 

For lakke of speche, and doun the hors 
him caste, 

Wher as he lay, til that men up him took; 



50-110.] 



H. THE MAUNCIPLES TALE. 



263 



This was a fayr chivachee of a cook ! 50 
Alias ! he nadde holde him by his ladel ! 
And, er that he agayn were in his sadel, 
Ther was greet showving bothe to and 

fro, 
To lifte him up, and muchel care and wo, 
So unweldy was this scry palled gost. 55 
And to the maunciple thanne spak our 

host, 
« By-cause drink hath dominacioun 
Upon this man, by my savacioun 
I trowe he lewedly wolde telle his tale. 
Por, were it wyn, or old or moysty 

ale, 60 

That he hath dronke, he speketh in his 

nose, 
And fneseth faste, and eek he hath the 

pose. 
He hath also to do more than y-nough 
To kepe him and his capel out of slough; 
And, if he falle from his capel eft- 

sone, 65 

Than shul we alle have y-nough to done, 

In hfting up his hevy dronken cors. 

Telle on thy tale, of him make I no fors. 

But yet, maunciple, in feith thou art to 

nyce. 
Thus openly repreve him of his vyce. 70 
Another day he wol, peraventure, 
Reclayme thee, and bringe thee to lure; 
I mene, he speke wol of smale thinges, 
As for to pinchen at thy rekeninges, 
That wer not honeste, if it cam to 

preef.' 7c 

'No,' quod the maunciple, * that were 

a greet mescheef ! 
So mighte he lightly bringe me in the 

snare. 
Yet hadde I lever payen for the mare 
Which he rit on, than he sholde with me 

stryve; 

Thus endeth the Pr^ 



I wol nat wratthe him, al-so mote I 

thryve ! 80 

That that I spak, I seyde it in my 

bourde; 
And wite ye what ? I have heer, in a 

gourde, 
A draught of wyn, ye, of a rype grape, 
And right anon ye shul seen a good 

lape. 
This cook shal drinke ther-of, if I 

may; 85 

Up peyne of deeth, he wol nat seye me 

nay ! ' 
And certeinly, to tellen as it was. 
Of this vessel the cook drank faste, 

alias ! 
What neded him? he drank y-nough 

biforn. 
And whan he hadde pouped in this 

horn, 90 

To the maunciple he took the gourde 

agayn; 
And of that drinke the cook was wonder 

fayn. 
And thanked him in swich wyse as he 

coude. 
Than gan our host to laughen wonder 

loude. 
And seyde, * I see wel, it is necessarie, 95 
Wher that we goon, good drink we with 

us carie; 
For that wol turne rancour and disese 
Tacord and love, and many a wrong 

apese. 
O thou Bachus, y-blessed be thy name. 
That so canst turnen ernest in-to game ! 
Worship and thank be to thy deitee ! 10 1 
Of that matere ye gete na-more of me. 
Tel on thy tale, maunciple, I thee preye.' 
'Wel, sir,' quod he, 'now herkneth 

what I seye.' 
of the Manciple. 



THE MAUNCIPLES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Maunciples Tale of 
the Crowe. 

Whan Phebus dwelled here in this erthe 
adoun, 105 

As olde bokes maken mencioun. 



He was the moste lusty bachiler 

In al this world, and eek the beste 

archer; 
He slow Phitoun, the serpent, as he lay 
Slepinge agayn the sonne upon 3 

day; no 



264 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[iii-i! 



And many another noble worthy dede 
He with his bowe wroghte, as men may 

rede. 
Pleyen he coude on every minstralcye, 
And singen, that it was a melodye, 
To heren of his clere vois the soun. 115 
Certes the king of Thebes, Amphioun, 
That with his singing walled that citee, 
Coude never singen half so wel as he. 
Therto he was the semelieste man 
That is or was, sith that the world 

bigan. 1 20 

What nedeth it his fetures to discryve? 
For in this world was noon so fair on 

lyve. 
He was ther-with fulfild of gentillesse, 
Of honour, and of parfit worthinesse. 
This Phebus, that was flour of bachel- 

rye, 125 

As wel in fredom as in chivalrye, 
For his desport, in signe eek of victorie 
Of Phitoun, so as telleth us the storie. 
Was wont to beren in his hand a bowe. 
Now had this Phebus in his hous a 

crowe, 130 

Which in a cage he fostred many a day, 
And taughte it speken, as men teche a 

lay. 
Whyt was this crowe, as is a snow-whyt 

swan. 
And countrefete the speche of every man 
He coude, whan he sholde telle a 

tale. .135 

Ther-with in '^1 this'world no nightingale 
Ne coude, by an hondred thousand deel, 
Singen so wonder merily and week 

Now had this Phebus in his hous a 

wyf, 139 

Which that he lovede more than his lyf. 
And night and day dide ever his dili- 
gence 
Hir for to plese, and doon hir reverence, 
Save only, if the sothe that I shal sayn, 
lalous he was, and wolde have kept hir 

fayn; 
For him were looth by-iaped for to 

be. 145 

And so is every wight in swich degree; 
But al in ydel, for it availleth noght. 
A good wyf, that is clene of wcrk and 

thoght, 
Sholde nat been kept in noon await, cer- 

tayn; 



And trewely, the labour is in vayn 150 
To kepe a shrewe, for it wol nat be. 
This holde I for a verray nycetee. 
To spille labour, for to kepe wyves; 
Thus writen olde clerkes in hir lyves. 

But now to purpos, as I first bigan: 155 
This worthy Phebus dooth all that he 

can 
To plesen hir, weninge by swich ple- 

saunce, 
And for his manhede and his gover- 

naunce, 
That no man sholde han put him from 

hir grace. 
But god it woot, ther may no man em- 
brace 160 
As to destreyne a thing, which that na- 
ture 
Hath naturelly set in a creature. 

Tak any brid, and put it in a cage, 
And do al thyn entente and thy corage 
To fostre it tendrely with mete and I 

drinke, 165 

Of alle deyntees that thou canst bithinke, 
And keep it al-so clenly as thou may; 
Al-though his cage of gold be never so 

gay, 
Yet hath this brid, by twenty thousand I 

fold, 
Lever in a forest, that is rude and cold, 
Gon ete wormes and swich wrecched- 

nesse, 171 

For ever this brid wol doon his bisinesse 
To escape out of his cage, if he may; 
His libertee this brid desireth ay. 

Lat take a cat, and fostre him wel with 

milk, 175 , 

And tendre flesh, and make his couche 

of silk, 
And lat him seen a mous go by the wal; 
Anon he weyveth milk, and flesh, and al, 
And every deyntee that is in that hous, 
Swich appetyt hath he to ete a mous. 
Lo, here hath lust his dominacioun, 181 
And appetyt flemeth discrecioun. 

A she-wolf hath also a vileins kinde; 
The lewedeste wolf that she may finde, 
Or leest of reputacion wol she take, 185 
In tyme whan hir lust to han a make. 
Alle thise ensamples speke I by thise 

men 
That been untrewe, and no-thing by 

wommen. 1 



189-266.] 



H, THE MAUNCIPLES TALE. 



265 



For men han ever a likerous appetyt 
On lower thing to parfourne hir delyt 190 
Than on hir wyves, be they never so 

faire, 
Ne never so trevve, ne so debonaire. 
Flesh is so nevvefangel, with meschaunce, 
That we ne conne in no-thing han ple- 

saunce 
That souneth in-to vertu any whyle. 195 
This Phebus, which that thoghte upon 

no gyle, 
Deceyved was, for al his lolitee; 
For under him another hadde she, 
A man of litel reputacioun, 199 

Noght worth to Phebus in comparisoun. 
The more harm is; it happeth ofte so, 
Of vi'hich ther cometh muchel harm and 

wo. 
And so bifel, whan Phel)us was absent, 
His wyf anon hath for hir lemman sent, 
Hir lemman? certes, this is a knavish 

speche ! 205 

Foryeveth it me, and that I yow biseche. 

The wyse Plato seith, as ye mey rede, 
The word mot nede accorde with the 

dede. 
If m jn shal telle proprely a thing. 
The word mot cosin be to the werking. 
I am a boistous man right thus, seye I, 
Ther nis no difference, trewely, 212 

Bitwixe a wyf that is of heigh degree, 
If of hir body dishonest she be. 
And a povre wenche, other than this — 
If it so be, they werke bothe amis — 216 
But that the gentile, in estaat above. 
She shal be cleped his lady, as in love; 
And for that other is a povre womman. 
She shal be cleped his wenche, or his 

lemman. 220 

And, god it woot, myn owene dere 

brother. 
Men leyn that oon as lowe as lyth that 

other. 
Right so, bitwixe a titlelees tiraunt 
And an outlawe, or a theef erraunt, 224 
The same I seye, ther is no difference. 
To Alisaundre told was this sentence; 
That, for the tyrant is of gretter might, 
By force of meynee for to sleen doun- 

right. 
And brennen hous and hoom, and make 

al plain, 
Lo ! therfor is he cleped a capitain; 230 



And, for the outlawe hath but smal 

meynee, 
And may nat doon so greet an harm as 

he, 
Ne bringe a contree to so greet mes- 

cheef. 
Men clepen him an outlawe or a theef. 
But, for I am a man noght textuel, 235 
I wol noght telle of textes never a del; 
I wol go to my tale, as I bigan. 
Whan Phebus wyf had sent for hir 

lemman. 
Anon they wroghten al hir lust volage. 
The whyte crowe, that heng ay in the 

cage, 240 

Biheld hir werk, and seyde never a word. 
And whan that hoom was come Phebus, 

the lord. 
This crowe sang * cokkow ! cokkow ! 

cokkow ! ' 
'What, brid?' quod Phebus, 'what 

song singestow? 
Ne were thow v/ont so merily to singe 
That to myn herte it was a reioisinge 246 
To here thy vois? alias! what song is 

this?' 
* By god,' quod he, * I singe nat amis; 
Phebus,' quod he, ' for al thy worthi- 

nesse, 249 

For al thy beautee and thy gentilesse. 
For al thy song and al thy minstralcye, 
r.>r al thy waiting, blered is thyn ye 
With oon of litel reputacioun, 
Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun. 
The mountance of a gnat; so mote I 

thryve ! 255 

For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh him 

swyve.' 
What wol ye more? the crowe anon 

him tolde, 
By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde. 
How that his wyf had doon hir lecherye. 
Him to gret shame and to gret vileinye; 
And tolde him ofte, he saugh it with his 

yen. 261 

This Phebus gan aweyward for to wryen, 
Him thoughte his sorweful herte brast 

a-two ; 
His bowe he bente, and sette ther-inne a 

flo, 
And in his ire his wyf thanne hath he 

slayn. 265 

This is theffect, ther is na-more to sayn ; 



266 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[267-343. 



P^or sorwe of which he brak his minstral- 

cye, 
Bothe harpe, and lute, and giterne, and 

sautrye; 
And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe. 
And after that, thus spak he to the 

crowe : 270 

'Traitour,' quod he, 'with tonge of 

scorpioun, 
Thou hast me broght to my confusioun ! 
Alias ! that I was wroght ! why nere I 

deed ? 
O dere wyf, o gemme of lustiheed, 
That were to me so sad and eek so 

trewe, 275 

Now lystow deed, with face pale of hewe, 
Ful giltelees, that dorste 1 swere, y-wis ! 
O rakel hand, to doon so foule amis ! 
O trouble wit, o ire recchelees. 
That unavysed smytest giltelees ! 280 

O wantrust, ful of fals suspecioun, 
Where was thy wit and thy discrecioun? 
O every man, be-war of rakelnesse, 
Ne trowe no-thing with-outen strong 

witnesse; 
Smyt nat to sone, er that we witen why, 
And beeth avysed wel and sobrely 286 
Er ye doon any execucioun, 
Up-on your ire, for suspecioun. 
Alias ! a thousand folk hath rakel ire 
Fully fordoon, and broght hem in the 

mire. 290 

Alias ! for sorwe I wol my-selven slee ! ' 

And to the crowe, 'o false theef!' 

seyde he, 
' I wol thee quyte anon thy false tale ! 
Thou songe whylom lyk a nightingale; 
Now shaltow, false theef, thy song for- 
go", 295 
And eek thy whyte fetheres everichon, 
Ne never in al thy lyf ne shaltou speke. 
Thus shal men on a traitour been 

awreke ; 
Thou and thyn of-spring ever shul be 

blake, 
Ne never swete noise shul ye make, 300 
But ever crye agayn tempest and rayn, 
In tokeninge that thurgh thee my wyf is 

slayn.' 
And to the crowe he stirte, and that anon, 
And pulled his whyte fetheres everichon. 
And made him blak, and refte him al his 

song, . 305 



And eek his speche, and out at dore him 

slong 
Un-to the devel, which I him bitake; 
And for this caas ben alle crowes 

blake. — 
Lordings, by this ensample I yow 

preye, 
Beth war, and taketh kepe what I 

seye : 310 

Ne telleth never no man in your lyf 
How that another man hath dight his 

wyf; 
He wol yow haten mortally, certeyn. 
Daun Salomon, as wyse clerkes seyn, 
Techeth a man to kepe his tonge 

wel; 315 

But as I seyde, I am noght texuel. 
But nathelees, thus taughte me my dame : 
' My sone, thenk on the crowe, a goddes 

name; 
My sone, keep wel thy tonge and keep 

thy freend. 
A wikked tonge is worse than a feend. 
My sone, from a feend men may hem 

blesse; 321 

My sone, god of his endelees goodnesse 
Walled a tonge with teeth and lippes eke. 
For man sholde him avyse what he speke. 
My sone, ful ofte, for to muche speche. 
Hath many a man ben spilt, as clerkes 

teche; 326 

But for a litel speche avysely 
Is no men shent, to speke generally. 
My sone, thy tonge sholdestow restreyne 
At alle tyme, but whan thou doost thy 

peyne 330 

To speke of god, in honour and preyere. 
The firste vertu, sone, if thou wolt lere. 
Is to restreyne and kepe wel thy tonge. — 
Thus lerne children whan that they ben 

yonge. — 
My sone, of muchel speking yvel-avysed, 
Ther lasse speking hadde y-nough suf- 

fysed, 336 

Comth muchel harm, thus was me told 

and taught. 
In muchel speche sinne wanteth naught. 
Wostow wher-of a rakel tonge serveth ? 
Right as a swerd forcutteth and for- 

kerveth 340 

An arm a-two, my dere sone, right so 
A tonge cutteth frendship al a-two. 
A laiiglt-r IS to god abhominable; 



344-362. 1-350 



I. THE PARSON'S PROLOGUE. 



267 



Reed Salomon, so wys and honurable; 
Reed David in his psalmes, reed Sen- 

ekke. 345 

My sone, spek nat, but with thyn heed 

thou bekke. 
Dissimule as thou were deef, if that thou 

here 
A langler speke of perilous matere. 
The Fleming seith, and lerne it, if thee 

leste, 
That litel langling causeth muchel 

reste. 350 

My sone, if thou no wikked word hast 

seyd, 
Thee thar nat drede for to be biwreyd; 
But he that hath misseyd, I dar wel 

sayn, 



He may by no wey clepe his word 

agayn. 
Thing that is seyd, is seyd; and forth it 

gooth, 355 

Though him repente, or be him leef or 

looth. 
He is his thral to whom that he hath 

sayd 
A tale, of which he is now yvel apayd. 
My sone, be war, and be non auctour 

newe 
Of tydinges, whether they ben false or 

trewe. , 360 

Wher-so thou come, amonges hye or 

lowe, 
Kepe wel thy tonge, and thenk up-on 

the crowe. 



Here is ended the Maunciples Tale of the Crowe. 



GROUP I. 



THE PARSON'S PROLOGUE. 



Here folweth the Prologe of the Persones 
Tale. 

By that the maunciple hadde his tale al 

ended, 
The Sonne fro the south lyne was de- 
scended 
So lowe, that he nas nat, to my sighte. 
Degrees nyne and twenty as in highte. 
Foure of the clokke it was tho, as I 
gesse ; 5 

For eleven foot, or litel more or lesse, 
My shadwe was at thilke tyme, as there, 
Of swich feet as my lengthe parted were 
In six feet equal of proporcioun. 
Ther-with the mones exaltacioun, 10 

I mene Libra, aUvey gan ascende, 
As we were entringe at a thropes ende; 
For which our host, as he was wont to 

gye, 

As in this caas, our loly companye, 
Seyde in this wyse, ' lordings everich- 
oon, 15 

Now lakketh us no tales mo than oon. 
Fulfild is my sentence and my decree; 
I trowe that we han herd of ech degree. 



Almost fulfild is al myn ordinaunce; 

I prey to god, so yeve him right good 

chaunce, 20 

That telleth this tale to us lustily. 
Sir preest,' quod he, ' artow a vicary? 
Or art a person ? sey sooth, by thy fey ! 
Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat our 

pley; 
For every man, save thou, hath told his 

tale, 25 

Unbokel, and shewe us what is in thy 

male; 
For trewely, me thinketh, by thy chere. 
Thou sholdest knitte up wel a greet 

matere. 
Tel us a tale anon, for cokkes bones ! ' 
This Persone him answerde, al at 

ones, 30 

*Thou getest fable noon y-told for me; 
For Paul, that wryteth unto Timothee, 
Repreveth hem that weyven soothfast- 

nesse, 
And tellen fables and swich wrecched- 



nesse. 
Why sholde 
fest. 



I sowen draf out of 



my 
35 



268 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[36-82. 



Whan I may sowen whete, if that me 

lest? 
For which I seye, if that yow list to 

here 
Moralitee and vertuous matere, 
And thanne that ye wol yeve me audi- 
ence, 
I wol ful fayn, at Cristes reverence, 40 
Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I can. 
But trusteth wel, I am a Southren man, 
I can nat geste — rum, ram, ruf — by 

lettre, 
Ne, god^ wot, rym holde I but litel 

bettre ; 
And therfor, if yow list, I wol nat glose. 45 
I wol yow telle a mery tale in prose 
To knitte up al this feeste, and make an 

ende. 
And lesu, for his grace, wit me sende 
To shewe yow the wey, in this viage. 
Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrimage 50 
That highte Jerusalem celestial. 
And, if ye vouche-sauf, anon I shal 
Biginne upon my tale, for whiche I preye 
Telle your avys, I can no bettre seye. 
But nathelees, this meditacioun 55 

Explicit 



I putte it ay under correccioun 
Of clerkes, for I am nat textuel; 
I take but the sentens, trusteth wel. 
Therfor I make protestacioun 
That I wol stonde to correccioun.' 60 
Up-on this word we han assented 

sone, 
For, as us semed, it was for to done. 
To enden in som vertuous sentence, 
And for to yeve him space and audi- 
ence; 
And bede our host he sholde to him 

seye, 65 

That alle we to telle his tale him preye. 
Our host hadde the wordes for us 

alle: — 
' Sir preest,' quod he, * now fayre yow 

bifalle ! 
Sey what yow list, and we wol gladly 

here ' — 
And with that word he seyde in this 

man ere — 70 

'Telleth,' quod he, 'your meditacioun. 
But hasteth yow, the sonne wol adoun; 
Beth fructuous, and that in litel space, 
And to do wel god sende yow his grace ! ' 
prohemium. 



THE PERSONES TALE. 



Here biginneth the Persones 
Tale. 

ler. 6°. State super vias et videte 
et interrogate de viis antiqtiis, que 
sit via bona ; et ambulate in ea, et 
inuenietis refrigerium animabus ves~ 
tris, ^T'c. 

§ I. Our swete lord god of hevene, 
that no man wole perisse, but wole 
that we comen alle to the knowel- 
eche of him, and to the blisful lyf 
75 that is perdurable, / amonesteth us by 
the prophete leremie, that seith in 
this wyse : / * stondeth upon the 
weyes, and seeth and axeth of olde 
pathes (that is to seyn, of olde sen- 
tences) which is the goode wey ; / 



and walketh in that wey, and ye shul 
finde refresshinge for your soules,' 
&c. / Manye been the weyes espir- 
ituels that leden folk to oure Lord 
lesu Crist, and to the regne of glorie. / 
Of whiche weyes, ther is a ful noble 
wey and a ful covenable, which may 
nat faile to man ne to womman, that 
thurgh sinne hath misgoon fro the 
righte wey of Jerusalem celestial; / 80 
and this wey is cleped Penitence, of 
which man sholde gladly herknen and 
enquere with al his herte; / to witen 
what is Penitence, and whennes it is 
cleped Penitence, and in how manye 
maneres been the accions or werk- 
inges of Penitence, / and how manye 
spyces ther been of Penitence, and 
whiche thirges apcrtenen and bihoven 



83-110.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



269 



to Penitence, and whiche thinges de- 
stourben Penitence. / 

§ 2. Seint Ambrose seith, that 
* Penitence is the pleyninge of man 
for the gilt that he hath doon, and 
na-more to do any thing for which 
him oghte to pleyne.' / And som 
doctour seith : ' Penitence is the vvay- 
mentinge of man, that sorweth for his 
sinne and pyneth him-self for he hath 

85 misdoon.' / Penitence, with certeyne 
circumstances, is verray repentance of 
a man that halt him-self in sorwe and 
other peyne for hise giltes. / And 
for he shal be verray penitent, he shal 
first biwailen the sinnes that he hath 
doon, and stidefastly purposen in his 
herte to have shrift of nK)uthe, and to 
doon satisfaccioun, / and never to 
doon thing for which him oghte more 
to biwayle or to compleyne, and to 
continue in goode werkes : or elles 
his repentance may nat availle. / 
For as seith seint Isidre : ' he is a 
laper and a gabber, and- no verray 
repentant, that eftsoone dooth thing, 
for which him oghte repcnte.' / 
Wepinge, and nat for to stinte to 

90 doon sinne, may nat avaylle./ But 
nathelees, men shal hope that every 
tyme that man falleth, be it never so 
ofte, that he may arise thurgh Peni- 
tence, if he have grace : but certeinly 
it is greet doute. / For as seith Seint 
Gregorie: 'unnethe aryseth he out of 
sinne, that is charged with the charge 
of yvel usage.' / And therfore re- 
pentant folk, that stinte for to sinne, 
and forlete sinne er that sinne forlete 
hem, holy chirche holdeth hem siker 
of hir savacioun. / And he that sin- 
neth, and verraily repenteth him in 
his laste ende, holy chirche yet hopeth 
his savacioun, by the grete mercy of 
oure lord lesu Crist, for his repent- 
aunce; but tak the siker wey. / 

§ 3. And now, sith I have declared 
yow what thing is Penitence, now shul 
ye understonde that ther been three 

95 accions of Penitence. / The firste ac- 
cion of Penitence is, that a man be 
baptized after that he hath sinned. / 
Seint Augustin seith: 'but he be | 



penitent for his olde sinful lyf, he may 
nat biginne the newe clene lif.' / For 
certes, if he be baptized withouten 
penitence of his olde gilt, he receiv- 
eth the mark of baptisme, but nat the 
grace ne the remission of his sinnes, 
til he have repentance verray. / An- 
other defaute is this, that men doon 
deedly sinne after that they han re- 
ceived baptisme. / The thridde de- 
faute is, that men fallen in venial 
sinnes after hir baptisme, fro day to 
day. / Ther-of seith Seint Augustin, 100 
that * penitence of goode and hifmble 
folk is the penitence of every day.' / 

§ 4. The spyces of Penitence been 
three. That oon of hem is solempne, 
another is commune, and the thridde 
is privee. / Thilke penance that is 
solempne, is in two maneres; as to be 
put out of holy chirche in lente, for 
slaughtre of children, and swich 
maner thing. / Another is, whan a 
man hath sinned openly, of which 
sinne the fame is openly spoken in 
the contree; and thanne holy chirche 
by lugement destreineth him for to 
do open penaunce. / Commune pen- 
aunce is that preestes enioinen men 
comunly in certeyn caas; as for to 
goon, peraventure, naked in pilgrim- 
ages, or bare-foot. / Privee penaunce 105 
is thilke that men doon alday for 
privee sinnes, of whiche we shryve 
us prively and receyve privee pen- 
aunce. / 

§ 5. Now shallow understande 
what is bihovely and necessarie to 
verray parfit Penitence. And this 
stant on three thinges; / Contricioun 
of herte, Confessioun of Mouth, and 
Satisfaccioun./ For which seith Seint 
lohn Crisostom : ' Penitence destreyn- 
eth a man to accepte benignely every 
peyne that him is enioyned, with con- 
tricion of herte, and shrift of mouth, 
with satisfaccion; and in werkinge 
of alle maner humilitee.' / And this 
is fruitful Penitence agayn three 
thinges in whiche we wratthe oure 
lord lesu Crist: / this is to seyn, by no 
delyt in thinkinge, by recchelesnesse 
in spekinge, and by wikked sinful 



270 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[111-137. 



werkinge. / And agayns thise wik- 
kede giltes is Penitence, that may be 
lykned un-to a tree. / 

§ 6. The rote of this tree is Con- 
tricion, that hydeth hiin in the herte 
of him that is verray repentant, right 
as the rote of a tree hydeth him in 
the erthe. / Of the rote of Contri- 
cion springeth a stalke, that bereth 
braunches and leves of Confession, 
and fruit of Satisfaccion./ For which 
Crist seith in his gospel : * dooth digne 
fruit of Penitence'; for by this fruit 
may men knovve this tree, and nat by 
the rote that is hid in the herte of man, 
ne by the braunches ne by the levcs 

115 of Confession. / And therefore oure 
Lord lesu Crist seith thus: * by the 
fruit of hem ye shul knowen hem.' / 
Of this rote eek springeth a seed of 
grace, the which seed is moder of 
sikernesse, and this seed is egre and 
hoot. / The grace of this seed 
springeth of god, thurgh remem- 
brance of the day of dome and on 
the peynes of helle. / Of this mat- 
ere seith Salomon, that ' in the drede 
of god man forleteth his sinne. '/ The 
hete of this seed is the love of god, 
and the desiring of the loye perdur- 

120 able. / This hete draweth the herte 
of a man to god, and dooth him haten 
his sinne. / For soothly, ther is no- 
thing that savoureth so wel to a child 
as the milk of his norice, ne no-thing 
is to him more abhominable than 
thilke milk whan it is medled with 
other mete. / Right so the sinful 
man that loveth his sinne, him sem- 
eth that it is to him most swete of 
any-thing; / but fro that tyme that 
he loveth sadly our lord lesu Crist, 
and desireth the lif perdurable, ther 
nis to him no-thing more abhomi- 
nable. / P'or soothly, the lawe of god 
is the love of god; for which David 
the prophete seith : ' I have loved thy 
lawe and hated wikkednesse and 
hate'; he that loveth god kepeth his 

125 lawe and his word./ This tree saugh 
the prophete Daniel in spirit, up-on 
the avision of the king Nabugodo- 
nosor, whan b^ gonseiled him to do 



penitence./ Penaunce is the tree 
of lyf to hem that it receiven, and he 
that holdeth him in verray penitence 
is blessed; after the sentence of Salo- 
mon./ 

§ 7. In this Penitence or Contricion 
man shal understonde foure thinges, 
that is to seyn, what is Contricion : and 
whiche been the causes that moeven a 
man to Contricion : and how he sholde 
be contrit : and what Contricion availl- 
eth to the soule. / Thanne is it thus : 
that Contricion is the verray sorwe that 
a man receiveth in his herte for his 
sinnes, with sad purpos to shry ve him, 
and to do penaunce, and nevermore to 
do sinne. / And this sorwe shal been 
in this manere, as seith seint Bernard : 
* It shal been hevy and grevous, and 
ful sharpe and poinant in herte.' / 130 
First, for man hath agilt his lord and 
his creatour; and more sharpe and 
poinant, for he hath agilt his fader 
celestial; / and yet more sharpe and 
poinant, for he hath wrathed and agilt 
him that boghte him; which with his 
precious blood hath delivered us fro 
the bondes of sinne, and fro the cruel- 
tee of the devel and fro the peynes of 
helle. / 

§ 8. The causes that oghte moeve a 
man toContricion been six. First,a man 
shal rememl)re him of hise sinnes; / 
but loke he that thilke remembrance 
ne be to him no delyt by no wey, but 
greet shame and sorwe for his gilt. 
For lob seith : 'sinful men doon werkes 
worthy of Confession.' / And ther- 
fore seith Ezechie : * wol remembre 
me alle the yeres of my lyf, in bitter- 
nesse of myn herte.' / And god seith 13S 1 
in the Apocalips : • remembreth yow 
fro whennes that ye been falle'; for 
biforn that tyme that ye sinned, ye 
were the children of god, and limes of 
the regne of god ; / but for your sinne 
ye been woxen thral and foul, and 
membres of the feend, hate of aungels, 
sclaundre of holy chirche, and fode of 
the false serpent; perpetuel matere 
of the fyr of helle. / And yet more 
foul and abhominable, for ye tres- 
passen so ofte tyme, as doth the hound 



138-167.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



27] 



that retourneth to eten his spewing. / 
And yet be ye fouler for your longe 
continuing in sinne and your sinful 
usage, for which ye be roten in your 
sinne, as a beest in his dong. / Swiche 
manere of thoghtes maken a man to 
have shame of his sinne, and no delyt, 

140 as god seith by the prophete Ezechiel./ 
'Ye shal remembre yow of youre weyes, 
and they shuln displese yow.' Sothly, 
sinnes been the weyes that leden folk 
to helle. / 

§ 9. The seconde cause that oghte 
make a man to have desdeyn of sinne 
is this : that, as seith seint Peter, 
* who-so that doth sinne is thral of 
sinue'; ar.d sinne put a man in greet 
thraldom./ And therfore seith the 
prophete Ezechiel : ' I wente sorweful 
in desdayn of my-self.' And certes, 
wel oghte a man have desdayn of 
sinne, and withdrawe him from that 
thraldom and vileinye. / And lo, 
what seith Seneca in this matere. He 
seith thus : ' though I wiste that neither 
god ne man ne sholde nevere knowe 
it, yet wolde I have desdayn for to 
do sinne.' / And the same Seneca 
also seith : * I am born to gretter 
thinges than to be thral to my body, 
or than for to maken of my body a 

145 thral.' / Ne a fouler thral may no 
man ne womman maken of his body, 
than for to yeven his body to sinne. / 
Al were it the fouleste cherl, or the 
fouleste womman that liveth, and 
leest of value, yet is he thanne more 
foule and more in servitute. / Evere 
fro the hyer degree that man falleth, 
the more is he thral, and more to god 
and to the world vile and abhomina- 
ble. / O gode god, wel oghte man 
have desdayn of sinne; sith that, 
thurgh sinne, ther he was free, now 
is he maked bonde. / And therfore 
seyth Seint Augustin : ' if thou hast 
desdayn of thy servant, if he agilte or 
sinne, have thou thanne desdayn that 

150 thou thy-self sholdest do sinne.' / 
Take reward of thy value, that thou 
ne be to foul to thy-self. / Alias ! 
wel oghten they thanne have desdayn 
to been servauntz and thralles to 



sinne, and sore been ashamed of 
hem-self, / that god of his endelees 
goodnesse hath set hem in heigh es- 
taat, or yeven hem wit, strengthe of 
body, hele, beautee, prosperitee, / 
and boghte hem fro the deeth with 
his herte blood, that they so un- 
kindely, agayns his gentilesse, quyten 
him so vileinsly, to slaughtre of hir 
owene soules. / O gode god, ye 
wommen that been of so greet 
beautee, remembreth yow of the 
proverbe of Salomon, that seith:/ 155 
'he lykneth a fair womman, that 
is a fool of hir body, lyk to a ring 
of gold that were in the groyn of a 
sowe.' / For right as a sowe wroteth 
in everich ordure, so wroteth she hir 
beautee in the stinkinge ordure of 
sinne. / 

§ 10. The thridde cause that oghte 
moeve a man to Contricion, is drede 
of the day of dome, and of the horri- 
ble peynes of helle. / For as seint 
lerome seith : ' at every tyme that me 
remembreth of the day of dome, I 
quake; / for whan I ete or drinke, 
or what-so that I do, evere semeth 
me that the trompe sowneth in myn 
ere : / riseth up, ye that been dede, 160 
and cometh to the lugement.' / O 
gode god, muchel oghte a man to 
drede swich a lugement, ' ther-as we 
shuUen been alle,' as seint Foul seith, 
' biforn the sete of oure lord lesu 
Crist'; / wher-as he shal make a 
general congregacion, wher-as no 
man may been absent. / For certes, 
there availleth noon essoyne ne excu- 
sacion. / And nat only that oure de- 
fautes shuUen be iuged, but eek that 
alle oure werkes shuUen openly be 
knowe. / And as seith Seint Ber- 165 
nard: 'ther ne shal no pledinge 
availle, ne no sleighte; we shuUen 
yeven rekeninge of everich ydel 
word.' / Ther shul we han a luge 
that may nat been deceived ne cor- 
rupt. And why? For, certes, alle 
our thoghtes been discovered as to 
him; ne for preyere ne for mede he 
shal nat been corrupt. / And ther- 
fore seith Salomon : * the wratthe of 



272 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[168-191. 



god ne wol nat spare no wight, for 
preyere ne for yifte'; and therfore, 
at the day of doom, ther nis noon 
hope to escape. / Wherfore, as 
seith Seint Ansehn : * ful greet an- 
gwissh shul the sinful folk have at 
that tyme; / ther shal the sterne and 
wrothe luge sitte above, and under 
him the horrible put of helle open to 
destroyen him that moot biknowen 
hise sinnes, whiche sinnes openly been 
shewed biforn god and biforn every 

170 creature. / And on the left syde, 
mo develes than herte may bithinke, 
for to harie and drawe the sinful 
soules to the pyne of helle. / And 
with-inne the hertes of folk shal be 
the bytinge conscience, and with- 
oute-forth shal be the world al bren- 
ninge. / Whider shal thanne the 
wrecched sinful man flee to hyden 
him? Certes, he may nat hyden 
him; he moste come forth and 
shewen him.' / For certes, as seith 
seint lerome : ' the erthe shal 
casten him out of him, and the 
see also ; and the eyr also, that 
shal be ful of thonder-clappes and 
lightninges.' / Now sothly, who-so 
wel remembreth him of thise thinges, 
I gesse that his sinne shal nat turne 
him in-to delyt, but to greet sorwe, 

175 for drede of the peyne of helle. / 
And therfore seith lob to god : * suf- 
fre, lord, that I may a whyle biwaille 
and wepe, er I go with-oute return- 
ing to the derke lond, covered with 
the derknesse of deeth; / to the lond 
of misese and of derknesse, where-as 
is the shadwe of deeth; where-as 
ther is noon ordre or ordinance, but 
grisly drede that evere shal laste,' / 
Lo, here may ye seen that lob preyde 
respyt a whyle, to biwepe and waille 
his trespas; for soothly oon day of 
respyt is bettre than al the tresor of 
the world. / And for-as-muche as a 
man may acquiten him-self biforn god 
by penitence in this world, and nat by 
tresor, therfore sholde he preye to 
god to yeve him respyt a whyle, to 
biwepe and biwaillen his trespas. / 
For certes, al the sorwe that a man 



mighte make fro the beginning of the J 
world, nis but a litel thing at regard * 
of the sorwe of helle. / The cause 180 
why that lob clepeth helle * the lond 
of derknesse'; / under-stondeth that 
he clepeth it ' londe ' or erthe, for it is 
stable, and nevere shal faille; ' derk,' 
for he that is in helle hath defaute of 
light material. / For certes, the 
derke light, that shal come out of the 
fyr that evere shal brenne, shal turne 
him al to peyne that is in helle; for 
it sheweth him to the horrible develes 
that him tormenten. / * Covered 
with the derknesse of deeth ' : that is 
to seyn, that he that is in helle shal 
have defaute of the sighte of god; 
for certes, the sighte of god is the lyf 
perdurable. / 'The derknesse of 
deeth ' been the sinnes that the 
wrecched man hath doon, whiche that 
destourben him to see the face of 
god ; right as doth a derk cloude bi- 
tvvixe us and the sonne. / 'Lond of 185 
misese ' : by-cause that ther been 
three maneres of defautes, agayn 
three thinges that folk of this world 
han in this present lyf, that is to seyn, 
honours, delyces, and richesses. / 
Agayns honour, have they in helle 
shame and confusion. / For wel ye 
woot that men clepen 'honour' the 
reverence tliat man doth to man; but 
in helle is noon honour ne reverence. 
For certes, na-more reverence shal be 
doon there to a king than to a knave./ 
For which god seith by the prophete 
leremye : ' thilke folk that me de- 
spysen shul been in despyt.' / ' Hon- 
our' is eek cleped greet lordshipe; 
ther shal no man serven other but of 
harm and torment. ' Honour' is eek 
cleped greet dignitee and heighnesse; 
but in helle shul they been al fortroden 
of develes. / And god seith : ' the 190 
horrible develes shulle goon and 
comen up-on the hevedes of the 
dampned folk.' And this is for-as- 
muche as, the hyer that they were 
in this present lyf, the more shulle 
they been abated and defouled in 
helle. / Agayns the richesses of this 
world, shul they han misese of pov- 



192-216.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



273 



erte; and this poverte shal been in 
foure thinges : / in defaute of tresor, 
of which that David seith; 'the riche 
folk, that embraceden and oneden al 
hir herte to tresor of this world, shul 
slepe in the slepinge of deeth; and 
no-thing ne shul they fiinden in hir 
handes of al hir tresor.' / And 
more-over, the miseise of helle shal 
been in defaute of mete and drinke. / 
For god seith thus by Moyses; 'they 
shul been wasted with hunger, and 
the briddes of helle shul devouren 
hem with bitter deeth, and the galle 
of the dragon shal been hir drinke, 
and the venim of the dragon hir mor- 

195 sels.' / And forther-over, hir miseise 
shal been in defaute of clothing : for 
they shulle be naked in body as of 
clothing, save the fyr in which they 
brenne and othere filthes; / and 
naked shul they been of soule, of 
alle manere vertues, which that is the 
clothing of the soule. Where been 
thanne the gaye robes and the softe 
shetes and the smale shertes? / To, 
what seith god of hem by the proph- 
ete Isaye : ' that under hem shul been 
strawed motthes, and hir covertures 
shulle been of wormes of helle.' / 
And forther-over, hir miseise shal 
been in defaute of freendes; for he 
nis nat povre that hath goode 
freendes, but there is no freend; / 
for neither god ne no creature shal 
been freend to hem, and everich of 
hem shal haten other with deedly 

200 hate. / 'The sones and the dogh- 
tren shullen rebellen agayns fader 
and mooder, and kinrede agayns kin- 
rede, and chyden and despysen ever- 
ich of hem other,' bothe day and 
night, as god seith by the prophete 
Michias. / And the lovinge chil- 
dren, that whylom loveden so fleshly 
everich other, wolden everich of hem 
eten other if they mighte. / For 
how sholden they love hem togidre 
in the peyne of helle, whan they 
hated ech of hem other in the pros^ 
peritee of this lyf? / For truste wel, 
hir fleshly love was deedly hate; as 
seith the prophete David : ' who-so 



that loveth wikkednesse he hateth 
his soule.' / And who-so hateth his 
ovvene soule, certes, he may love noon 
other wight in no manere. / And 205 
therefore, in helle is no solas ne no 
frendshipe, but evere the more fleshly 
kinredes that been in helle, the more 
cursinges, the more chydinges, and 
the more deedly hate ther is among 
hem. / And forther-over, they shul 
have defaute of alle manere delyces; 
for certes, delyces been after the ap- 
petytes of the fyve wittes, as sighte, 
heringe, smellinge, savoringe, and 
touchinge. / But in helle hir sighte 
shal be ful of derknesse and of smoke, 
and therfore ful of teres; and hir her- 
inge, ful of waymentinge and of grint- 
inge of teeth, as seith lesu Crist; / 
hir nosethiries shullen be ful of stink- 
inge stink. And as seith Isaye the 
prophete: 'hir savoring shal be ful 
of bitter galle.' / And touchinge of 
al hir body, y-covered with ' fyr that 
nevere shal quenche, and with wormes 
that nevere shul dyen,' as god seith 
by the mouth of Isaye. / And for- 210 
as-muche as they shul nat wene that 
they may dyen for peyne, and by hir 
deeth flee fro peyne, that may they 
understonden by the word of lob, 
that seith: ' ther-as is the shadwe of 
deeth.' / Certes, a shadwe hath the 
lyknesse of the thing of which it is 
shadwe, but shadwe is nat the same 
thing of which it is shadwe. / Right 
so fareth the peyne of helle; it is lyk 
deeth for the horrible anguissh, and 
why? For it peyneth hem evere, as 
though they sholde dye anon; but 
certes they shal nat dye. / For as 
seith Seint Gregorie : ' to wrecche 
caytives shal be deeth with-oute 
deeth, and ende with-outen ende, and 
defaute with-oute failinge. / For hir 
deeth shal alwey liven, and hir ende 
shal everemo biginne, and hir defaute 
shal nat faille.' / And therfore seith 215 
Seint lohn the Evangelist : ' they 
shullen folwe deeth, and they shul 
nat finde him; and they shul desyren 
to dye, and deeth shal flee fro hem.' / 
And eek lob seith : that * in helle is 



274 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[217-242. 



noon ordre of rule.' / And al-be-it 
so that god hath creat alle thinges in 
right ordre, and no-thing with-outen 
ordre, but alle thinges been ordeyned 
and nombred; yet nathelees they 
that been dampned been no-thing in 
ordre, ne holden noon ordre. / For 
the erthe ne shal bere hem no fruit. / 
P'or, as the prophete David seith : ' god 
shal destroie the fruit of the erthe as 
fro hem; ' ne water ne shal yeve hem 
no moisture; ne the eyr no refressh- 

220 ing, ne fyr no light. / For as seith 
seint Basilie : ' the brenninge of the 
fyr of this world shal god yeven in 
helle to hem that been dampned; / 
but the light and the cleernesse shal 
be yeven in hevene to hise children '; 
right as the gode man yeveth flesh to 
hise children, and bones to his 
houndes. / And for they shullen 
have noon hope to escape, seith seint 
lob atte laste : that ' ther shal hor- 
rour and grisly drede dwellen with- 
outen ende.' / Horrour is alwey 
drede of harm that is to come, and 
this drede shal evere dwelle in the 
hertes of hem that been dampned. 
And therefore han they lorn al hir 
hope, for sevene causes. / First, for 
god that is hir luge shal be with-outen 
mercy to hem; ne they may nat plese 
him, ne noon of hise halvves; ne they 

225 ne may yeve no-thing for hir raunson ; / 
ne they have no vois to speke to him; 
netheymay nat flee fro peyne; nethey 
have no goodnesse in hem, that they 
mowe shewe to delivere hem fro 
peyne./ And therfore seith Salomon : 
♦ the wikked man dyeth ; and whan he 
is deed, he shal have noon hope to es- 
cai)e fro peyne.' / Who-so thanne 
wolde wel understande these peynes, 
and bithinke him weel that he hath 
deserved thilke peynes for his sinnes, 
certes, he sholde have more talent to 
syken and to wepe than for to singen 
and to pleye. / For as that seith 
Salomon : * who-so that hadde the 
science to knowe the peynes that 
been establissed and ordeyned for 
sinne, he wolde make sorwe.' / 
•Thilke science,' as seith seint Au- 



gustin, * maketh a man to waymenten 
in his herte.' / 230 

§ 1 1. The fourthe point, that oghte 
maken a man to have contricion, is 
the sorweful remembrance of the good 
that he hath left to doon here in 
earthe; and eek the good that he 
hath lorn. / Soothly, the gode 
werkes that he hath left, outher they 
been the gode werkes that he wroghte 
er he fel in-to deedly sinne, or elles 
the gode werkes that he wroghte 
while he lay in sinne. / Soothly, the 
gode werkes, that he dide biforn that 
he hi in sinne, been al mortified and 
astoned and dulled by the ofte sin- 
ning. / The othere gode werkes, 
that he wroghte whyl he lay in deedly 
sinne, they been outrely dede as to the 
lyf perdurable in hevene. / Thanne 
thilke gode werkes that been morti- 
fied by ofte sinning, whiche gode 
werkes he dide whyl he was in chari- 
tee, ne mowe nevere quiken agayn 
with-outen verray penitence. / And 235 
ther-of seith god, by the mouth of 
Ezechiel : that, ' if the rightful man 
returne agayn from his rightwisnesse 
and werke wikkednesse, shal he 
Hve?' / Nay; for alle the gode 
werkes that he hath wroght ne shul 
nevere been in remembrance; for he 
shal dyen in his sinne. / And up-on 
thilke chapitre seith seint Gregorie 
thus: 'that we shulle understonde 
this principally; / that whan we doon 
deedly sinne, it is for noght thanne to 
rehercen or drawen in-to memorie the 
gode werkes that we han wroght bi- 
forn.' / For certes, in the werkinge 
of the deedly sinne, ther is no trust 
to no good werk that we han doon 
biforn; that is to seyn, as for to have 
therby the lyf perdurable in hevene. / 240 
But nathelees, the gode werkes 
quiken agayn, and comen agayn, and 
helpen, and availlen to have the lyf 
perdurable in hevene, whan we han 
contricion. / But soothly, the gode 
werkes that men doon whyl they been 
in deedly sinne, for-as-muche as they 
were doon in deedly sinne, they may 
nevere quiken agayn. / For certes, 



243-267.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



275 



thing that nevere hadde lyf may 
nevere quikene; and nathelees, al- 
be-it that they ne availle noght to han 
the lyf perdurable, yet availlen they 
to abregge of the peyne of helle, or 
elles to geten temporal richesse, / or 
elles that god wole the rather enlu- 
mine and lightne the herte of the sin- 
ful man to have repentance; /and 
eek they availlen for to usen a man to 
doon gode werkes, that the feend 

245 have the lasse power of his soule. / 
And thus the curteis lord lesu Crist 
wole that no good werk be lost; for 
in somwhat it shal availle. / But 
for-as-muche as the gode werkes that 
men doon whyl they been in good 
lyf, been al mortified by sinne fol- 
winge; and eek, sith that alle the 
gode werkes that men doon whyl they 
been in deedly synne, been outrely 
dede as for to have the lyf perdur- 
able; / wel may that man, that no 
good werke ne dooth, singe thilke 
newe Frenshe song : ^^ lay tout perdu 
piott temps et 7non labour^ / For 
certes, sinne bireveth a man bothe 
goodnesse of nature and eek the 
goodnesse of grace. / For soothly, 
the grace of the holy goost fareth lyk 
fyr, that may nat been ydel; for fyr 
faileth anoon as it forleteth his wirk- 
inge, and right so grace fayleth anoon 

250 as it forleteth his werkinge. / Than 
leseth the sinful man the goodnesse 
of glorie, that only is bihight to gode 
men that labouren and werken. / 
"Wel may he be sory thanne, that 
oweth al bis lif to god as longe as he 
hath lived, and eek as longe as he 
shal live, that no goodnesse ne hath 
to paye with his dette to god, to 
whom he oweth al his lyf. / For 
trust wel, ' he shal yeven acountes/ 
as seith seint Bernard, *of alle the 
godes that han be yeven him in this 
present lyf, and how he hath hem 
despended; / in so muche that ther 
shal nat perisse an heer of his heed, 
ne a moment of an houre ne shal nat 
perisse of his tyme, that he ne shal 
yeve of it a rekening.' / 

§ 12. The fifthe thing that oghte 



moeve a man to contricion, is remem- 
brance of the passion that oure lord 
lesu Crist suffred for our sinnes. / 255 
For, as seith seint Bernard : ' whyl 
that I live, I shal have remembrance 
of the travailles that oure lord Crist 
suffred in preching; /his wearinesse 
in travailling, hise temptacions whan 
he fasted, hise longe wakinges whan 
he preyde, hise teres whan that he 
weep for pitee of good peple; /the 
wo and the shame and the tilthe that 
men seyden to him; of the foule 
spitting that men spitte in his face, of 
the buffettes that men yaven him, of 
the foule mowes, and of the repreves 
that men to him seyden; /of the 
nayles with whiche he was nailed to 
the croys, and of al the remenant of 
his passion that he suffred for my 
sinnes, and no-thing for his gilt.' / 
And ye shul understonde, that in 
mannes sinne is every manere of ordre 
or ordinance turned up-so-doun. / 260 
For it is sooth, that god, and reson, 
and sensualitee, and the body of man 
been so ordeyned, that everich of 
thise foure thinges sholde have lord- 
shipe over that other; / as thus : god 
sholde have lordshipe over reson, and 
reson over sensualitee, and sensualitee 
over the body of man. / But sothly, 
whan man sinneth, al this ordre or 
ordinance is turned up-so-doun. / 
And therfore thanne, for-as-muche as 
the reson of man ne wol nat be sub- 
get ne obeisant to god, that is his lord 
by right, therfore leseth it the lord- 
shipe that it sholde have over sensual- 
itee, and eek over the body of man. / 
And why ? For sensualitee rebelleth 
thanne agayns reson; and by that \vey 
leseth reson the lordshipe over sen- 
sualitee and over the body. / For 265 
right as reson is rebel to god, right so 
is bothe sensualitee rebel to reson and 
the body also. / And certes, this 
disordinance and this rebellion oure 
lord lesu Crist aboghte up-on his 
precious body ful dere, and herk- 
neth in which wyse./ For-as-muche 
thanne as reson is rebel to god, ther- 
fore is man worthy to have sorwe and 



276 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[268-290. 



to be deed. / This suffred oure lord 
lesu Crist for man, after that he hadde 
be bitraysed of his disciple, and dis- 
treyned and bounde, ' so that his blood 
brast out at every nail of hise handes,' 
as seith seint Augustin. / And for- 
ther-over, for-as-muchel as reson of 
man ne wol nat daunte sensualitee 
whan it may, therfore is men worthy 
to have shame; and this suffred oure 
lord lesu Crist for man, whan they 

270 spetten in his visage. / And forther- 
over, for-as-muchel thanne as the 
caitif body of man is rebel bothe to 
reson and to sensualitee, therfore is 
it worthy the deeth. / And this suf- 
fred oure lord lesu Crist for man up- 
on the croys, where-as ther was no 
part of his body free, with-outen greet 
peyne and bitter passion. / And al 
this suffred lesu Crist, that nevere 
forfeted. And therfore resonably 
may be seyd of lesu in this manere : 
• to muchel am I peyned for the 
thinges that I nevere deserved, and 
to muche defouled for shend-shipe 
that man is worthy to have.' / And 
therfore may the sinful man vvel 
seye, as seith seint Bernard : ' acursed 
be the bitternesse of my sinne, for 
which ther moste be suffred so muchel 
bitternesse.'/ P'or certes, after the 
diverse discordances of oure wikked- 
nesses, was the passion of lesu Crist 

275 ordeyned in diverse thinges, / as thus. 
Certes, sinful mannes soule is bi- 
traysed of the devel by coveitise of 
temporel prosperitee, and scorned by 
deceite whan he cheseth fleshly dely- 
ces; and yet is it tormented by 
inpacience of adversitee, and bispet 
by servage and subieccion of sinne; 
and atte laste it is slayn fynally. / 
For this disordinaunce of sinful man 
was lesu Crist first bitraysed, and after 
that was he bounde, that cam for to 
unbynden us of sinne and peyne. / 
Thanne was he biscorned, that only 
sholde han been honoured in alle 
thinges and of alle thinges./ Thanne 
was his visage, that oghte be desired to 
be seyn of al man-kinde, in which vis- 
age aungels desyren to looke, vileynsly 



bispet. / Thanne was he scourged 
that no-thing hadde agilt; and fynally, 
thanne v/as he crucified and slayn. / 280 
Thanne was acompliced the word of 
Isaye : ' he was wounded for oure mis- 
dedes, and defouled for oure felon- 
ies.' / Now sith that lesu Crist took 
up-on him-self the peyne of alle oure 
wikkednesses, muchel oghte sinful 
man wepen and biwayle, that for hise 
sinnes goddes sone of hevene sholde 
al this peyne endure. / 

§ 13. The sixte thing that oghte 
moeve a man to contricion, is the 
hope of three thynges; that is to 
seyn, foryifnesse of sinne, and the 
yifte of grace wel for to do, and the 
glorie of hevene, with which god shal 
guerdone a man for hise gode dedes. / 
And for-as-muche as lesu Crist yeveth 
us thise yiftes of his largesse and of 
his sovereyn bountee, therfore is he 
cleped lesus Nazarenus rex ludeo- 
rum. / lesus is to seyn ' saveour * or 
'salvacion,' on whom men shul hope 
to have foryifnesse of sinnes, which 
that is proprely salvacion of sinnes. / 285 
And therfore seyde the aungel to 
Joseph : * thou shalt clepen his name 
lesus, that shal saven his peple of hir 
sinnes.' / And heer-of seith seint 
Peter : ' ther is noon other name 
under hevene that is yeve to any 
man, by which a man may be saved, 
but only lesus.'/ Nazarenus is as 
muche for to seye as ' florisshinge,' in 
which a man shal hope, that he that 
yeveth him remission of sinnes shal 
yeve him eek grace wel for to do. 
For in the flour is hope of fruit in 
tyme cominge; and in foryifnesse of 
sinnes hope of grace wel for to do. / 
' I was atte dore of thyn herte,' seith 
lesus, 'and cleped for to entre; he 
that openeth to me shal have foryif- 
nesse of sinne. / I wol entre in-to 
him by my grace, and soupe with 
him,' by the goode werkes that he 
shal doon; whiche werkes been the 
foode of god; 'and he shal soupe 
with me,' by the grete loye that I 
shal yeven him. / Thus shal man 290 
hope, for hise werkes of penaunce, 



291-312.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



277 



that god shall yeven him his regne; 
as he bihoteth him in the gospel. / 

§ 14. Now shal a man understonde, 
in which maneie shal been his con- 
tricion. I seye, that it shal been 
universal and total; this is to seyn, a 
man shal be verray repentant for alle 
hise sinnes that he hath doon in delyt 
of his thoght; for delyt is ful peril- 
ous. / For ther been two manere 
of consentinges; that oon of hem is 
cleped consentinge of affeccion, when 
a man is moeved to do sinne, and 
delyteth him longe for to thinke on 
that sinne; / and his reson aperceyv- 
eth it wel, that is is sinne agayns the 
lawe of god, and yet his reson refreyn- 
eth nat his foul delyt or talent, though 
he se wel apertly that it is agayns the 
reverence of god ; al-though his reson 
ne consente noght to doon that sinne 
in dede, / yet seyn somme doctours 
that swich delyt that dwelleth longe, 
it is ful perilous, al be it nevere so 
295 lite. / And also a man sholde sorwe, 
namely, for al that evere he hath 
desired agayn the lawe of god with 
perfit consentinge of his reson; for 
ther-of is no doute, that it is deedly 
sinne in consentinge. / For certes, 
ther is no deedly sinne, that it nas 
first in mannes thought, and after 
that in his delyt; and so forth in-to 
consentinge and in-to dede. / Wher- 
fore I seye, that many men ne re- 
penten hem nevere of swiche thoghtes 
and delytes, ne nevere shryven 
hem of it, but only of the dede of 
grete sinnes outward. / Wherfore 
I seye, that swiche wikked delytes 
and wikked thoghtes been subtile 
bigyleres of hem that shuUen be 
dampned. / More-over, man oghte 
to sorwe for hise wikkede wordes as 
wel as for hise wikkede dedes; for 
certes, the repentance of a singuler 
sinne, and nat repente of alle hise 
othere sinnes, or elles repenten him 
of alle hise othere sinnes, and nat of 
300 a singuler sinne, may nat availle. / 
For certes, god almighty is al good; 
and ther-fore he foryeveth al, or elles 
right noght. / And heer-of seith 



seint Augustin: *I woot certeinly / 
that god is enemy to everich sinnere '; 
and howthanne? He that observeth 
o sinne, shal he have foryifnesse of 
the remenaunt of hise othere sinnes? 
Nay. / And forther-over, contricion 
sholde be wonder sorweful and an- 
guissous, and therfore yeveth him god 
pleynly his mercy; and therfore, whan 
my soule was anguissous with-inne 
me, I hadde remembrance of god that 
my preyere mighte come to him./ 
Forther-over, contricion moste be 
continuel, and that man have stedefast 
purpos to shryven him, and for to 
amenden him of his lyf. / For 305 
soothly, whyl contricion lasteth, man 
may evere have hope of foryifnesse; 
and of this comth hate of sinne, that 
destroyeth sinne bothe in him-self, 
and eek in other folk, at his power. / 
For which seith David : ' ye that 
loven god hateth wikkednesse.' For 
trusteth wel, to love god is for to love 
that he loveth, and hate that he 
hateth. / 

§ 15. Thelaste thing that man shal 
understonde in contricion is this; 
wher-of avayleth contricion. I seye, 
that somtyme contricion delivereth a 
man fro sinne; / of which that David 
seith : * I seye,' quod David, that is 
to seyn, ' I purposed fermely to shryve 
me; and thow. Lord, relesedest my 
sinne.' / And right so as contricion 
availleth noght, with-outen sad pur- 
pos of shrifte, if man have oportu- 
nitee, right so litel worth is shrifte or 
satisfaccion with-outen contricion. / 310 
And more-over, contricion destroyeth 
the prison of helle, and maketh wayk 
and feble alle the strengthes of the 
develes, and restoreth the yiftes of the 
holy goost and of alle gode vertues; / 
and it clenseth the soule of sinne, 
and delivereth the soule fro the peyne 
of helle, and fro the companye of the 
devel, and fro the servage of sinne, 
and restoreth it to alle godes espir- 
ituels, and to the companye and 
communion of holy chirche. / And 
forther-over, it maketh him that 
whylom was sone of ire to be sone 



278 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[313-334. 



of grace; and alio thise thinges been 
preved by holy writ. / And therfore, 
he that wolde selte his entente to 
thise thinges, he were ful wys; for 
soothly, he ne sholde nat thanne in 
al his lyf have corage to sinne, but 
yeven his body and al his herte to 
the service of lesu Crist, and ther-of 
doon him homniage. / For soothly, 
cure swete lord lesu Crist hath spared 
us so debonairly in (jur folics, that if 
he ne hadde jntee of mannes soule, a 
315 sory song we niighten alle singe. / 

Explicit prima pars Penitentie ; et 
sequitur secunda pars eiusdem. 

§ 16. The scconde partie of Peni- 
tence is Confession, that is signe of 
contricion. / Now shul ye under- 
stonde what is Confession, and whether 
it oghte nedes be doon or noon, and 
whiche thinges been covenable to 
verray Confession. / 

§ 17. First shaltowunderstondc that 
Confession is verray shcwinge of sinnes 
to the preest ; / this is to seyn * verray,' 
for he nioste confesscn him of alle 
the condiciouns that bilongen to his 
sinne, as ferforth as he can. / Al 
moot be seyd, and no thing excused 
ne hid ne fcjrwrapped, and noght 
320 avaunte him of his gode werkes. / 
And f(jrther over, it is necessarie to 
un(lerst(mde whennes that sinnes 
springen, and how they encresen, and 
whiche they been. / 

§ 18. Of the springinge of sinnes 
seith seint Paul in this wise : that 
♦right as by a man sinne entred 
first in-to this work!, and thurgh that 
sinne deeth, right so thilke deeth 
entred in-to alle men that sinneden.'/ 
And this man was Adam, by whom 
sinne entred in-to this world whan he 
brak the comaundement of god. / 
And therfore, he that first was so 
mighty that he sholde not have dyer!, 
bicam swich oon tiiat he moste nedes 
dye, whether he wolde or noon; and 
all his progenie in this world that in 
thilke man sinneden. / Loke that in 
thestaat of innocence, when Adam 



and Eve naked weren in paradys, and 
no-thing ne hadden shame of hir na- 
kednesse, / how that the serpent, that 325 
was most wyly of alle othere bestes 
that god hadde maked, seyde to the 
womman : * why comaunded god to 
yow, ye shokle nat eten of every tree 
in paradys?'/ The womman an- 
swerde : ' of the fruit,' quod she, ' of 
the trees in paradys we feden us; but 
socjthly, of the fruit of the tree that 
is in the middel of paradys, god for- 
bad us for to ete, ne nat touchen it, 
lest pcr-aventure we should dyen.' / 
The serpent seyde to the womman : 
' nay, nay, ye shul nat dyen of deeth; 
for sothe, god woot, that what day 
that ye eten ther-of, youre eyen shul 
opene, and ye shul lieen as goddes, 
knowinge gfjtjd and harm.' / The 
W(jmman thanne saugh that the tree 
was good to feding, and fair to the 
eyen, and delytal)le to the sighte; she 
tok of the fruit of the tree, and eet it, 
and yaf to hir housbonde, and he eet; 
and anoon the eyen of hem bothe 
openeden. / And whan that they 
knewe that they were naked, they 
sowed of (ige-leves a manere of 
breches to hiden hir membres. / 330 
There may ye seen that deedly sinne 
hath first suggestion of the feend, as 
sheweth here by the naddre; and 
afterward, the delyt of the flesh, as 
sheweth here by J'lve; and after that, 
the consentinge of resoun, as sheweth 
here by Adam. / I'or trust wel, thogh 
so were that the feend tempted Eve, 
that is to seyn the flesh, and the flesh 
hadde delyt in the beautee of the 
fruit defended, yet certes, til that 
resoun, that is to seyn, Adam, con- 
sented to the ctinge of the fruit, yet 
stood he in thestaat of innocence. / 
Of thilke Adam toke we thilke sinne 
original ; for of him fleshly descended 
be we alle, and engendred of vile and 
corrupt matere. / And whan the 
soule is put in our body, right anon 
is contract original sinne ; and that, 
that was erst but (jnly peyne of con- 
cupiscence, is afterward bothe peyne 
and sinne. / And therfore be we 



335-355-] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



279 



alle born sones of wratthe and of 
dampnacion perdurable, if it nere 
baptcsme that we receyven, which 
binimetli us the culpe; but for sothe, 
the peyne dwelleth with us, as to 
temptacion, which peyne highte con- 

335 cupiscence. / Whan it is wrongfully 
disposed or ordeyned in man, it 
maketh him coveite, by coveitise of 
flesh, fleshly sinne, by sighte of hise 
eyen as to erthely thinges, and cov- 
eitise of hynesse l)y pryde of herte. / 
§ 19. Now as for to speken of the 
firste coveitise, that is, concupiscence 
after the lawe of oure membres, that 
weren lavvefuUiche y-maked and by 
rightful lugement of god; / I seye, 
for-as-muche as man is nat obeisaunt 
to god, that is his lord, therfore is the 
flesh to him disobeisaunt thurgh con- 
cupiscence, which yet is cleped noris- 
singe of sinne and occasion of 
sinne. / Therfore, al the whyle that 
a man hath in him the peyne of con- 
cupiscence, it is impossible but he be 
tempted somtymc, and moeved in his 
flesh to sinne. / And this thing may 
nat faille as longe as he liveth ; it may 
wel wexe feble and faille, by vertu of 
baptesme and by the grace of god 

340 thurgh penitence; / but fully ne shal 
it nevere quenche, that he ne shal som- 
tyme be moeved in him-self, but-if he 
were al refreyded by siknesse, or by 
maleliceofsorcerie orcolde drinkes. / 
P"or lo, what seith seint Paul : ' the 
flesh coveiteth agayn the spirit, and 
the spirit agayn the tlesh; they been 
so contraric and so stryven, that a man 
may nat alwey doon as he wolde.' / 
The same seint Paul, after his grete 
penaunce in water and in lond (in 
water by night and by day, in greet 
peril and in greet ]:)eyne, in lond, in 
famine, inthurst,in cold and clothlees, 
and ones stoned almost to the deeth) / 
yet seydehe: 'alias! I, caytif man, 
who shal delivere me fro the prisoun 
of my caytif body?'/ And seint 
lerome, whan he longe tyme hatlde 
woned in desert, whcre-as he hadde no 
companye but of wilde bestes, where- 
as he ne hadde no mete but herbes 



and water to his drinke, ne no bed 
but the naked erthe, for which his 
flesh was blak as an Ethiopen for hete 
and ny destroyed for cold, / yet seyde 345 
he : that ' the brenninge of lecherie 
boiled in al his body.' / Wherfore 
I woot wel sikerly, that they been 
deceyved that seyn, that they ne be 
nat tempted in hir body. / Witnesse 
on Seint lame the Apostel, that seith : 
that * every wight is tempted in his 
owen concupiscence '; that is to seyn, 
that everich of us hath matere and 
occasion to be tempted of the noris- 
singe of sinne that is in his body. / 
And therfore seith Seint lohn the 
Evaungelist : * if that we seyn that we 
beth with-oute sinne, we deceyve us- 
selve, and trouthe is nat in us.' / 

§ 20. Now shal ye understonde in 
what manere that sinne wexeth or 
encreseth in man. The firste thing is 
thilke norissinge of sinne, of which 
I spak biforn, thilke fleshly concu- 
piscence. / And after that comth 350 
the subieccion of the devel, this is to 
seyn, the develes bely, with which he 
bloweth in man the fyr of fleshly con- 
cupiscence. / And after that, a man 
bithinketh him whether he wol doon, 
or no, thilke thing to which he is 
tempted. / And thanne, if that a 
man withstonde and weyve the firste 
entysinge of his flesh and of the 
feend, thanne is it no sinne; and if 
it so be that he do nat so, thanne 
feleth he anon a flambe of delyt./ 
And thanne is it good to be war, and 
kepen him wel, or elles he wol falle 
anon in-to consentinge of sinne; and 
thanne wol he do it, if he may have 
tyme and place. / And of this 
matere seith Moyses by the devel in 
this manere : *the feend seith, I wole 
chace and pursue the man by wikked 
suggestion, and I wole hente him by 
moevynge or stiringe of sinne. I 
wol departe my pryse or my praye by 
deliberacion, and my lust shal been 
accompliced in delyt; I wol drawe 
my swerd in consentinge :'/ for 355 
certes, right as a swerd departeth a 
thing in two peces, right so consent- 



28o 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[356-375. 



inge departeth god fro man : * and 
thanne wol I sleen him with myn 
hand in dede of sinne ' ; thus seith 
the feend. / For certes, thanne is a 
man al deed in soule. And thus is 
sinne accompliced by temptacion, by 
delyt, and by consen tinge; and 
thanne is the sinne cleped actual. / 
§ 21. For sothe, sinne is in two 
maneres; outher it is venial, or 
deedly sinne. Soothly, whan man 
loveth any creature more than lesu 
Crist oure creatour, thanne is it 
deedly sinne. And venial synne is 
it, if man love lesu Crist lasse than 
him oghte. / P'or sothe, the dede of 
this venial sinne is ful perilous; for 
it amenuseth the love that men 
sholde han to god more and more. / 
And therfore, if a man charge him- 
self with manye swiche venial sinnes, 
certes, but-if so be that he som tyme 
descharge him of hem by shrifte, they 
mowe ful lightly amenuse in him al 

360 the love that he hath to lesu Crist; / 
and in this wise skippeth venial in-to 
deedly sinne. For certes, the more 
that a man chargeth his soule with 
venial sinnes, the more is he enclyned 
to fallen in-to deedly sinne. / And 
therfore, let us nat be necligent to 
deschargen us of venial sinnes. For 
the proverbe seith : that manye smale 
maken a greet. / And herkne this 
. ensample. A greet wawe of the see 
comth som-tyme with so greet a 
violence that it drencheth the ship. 
And the same harm doth som-tyme 
the smale dropes of water, that entren 
thurgh a litel crevace in-to the thur- 
rok, and in-to the botme of the ship, 
if men be so necligent that they ne 
descharge hem nat by tyme. / And 
therfore, al-thogh therbe a difference 
bitwixe thise two causes of drench- 
inge, algates the ship is dreynt. / 
Right so fareth it somtyme of deedly 
sinne, and of anoyouse veniale sinnes, 
whan they multiplye in a man so 
greetly, that thilke worldly thinges 
that he loveth, thurgh whiche he 
sinneth venially, is as greet in his 

365 herte as the love of god, or more. / 



And therfore, the love of every thing, 
that is nat biset in god ne doon prin- 
cipally for goddes sake, al-though 
that a man love it lasse than god, yet 
is it venial sinne; / and deedly sinne, 
whan the love of any thing weyeth in 
the herte of man as muchel as the 
love of god, or more. / ' Deedly 
sinne,' as seith seint Augustin, ' is, 
whan a man turneth his herte fro god, 
which that is verray sovereyn bountee, 
that may nat chaunge, and yeveth his 
herte to thing that may chaunge and 
flitte ' ; / and certes, that is every 
thing, save god of hevene. For sooth 
is, that if a man yeve his love, the 
which that he oweth al to god with 
al his herte, unto a creature, certes, 
as muche of his love as he yeveth to 
thilke creature, so muche he bireveth 
fro god; / and therfore doth he 
sinne. For he, that is dettour to 
god, ne yeldeth nat to god al his 
dette, that is to seyn, al the love of 
his herte. / 37° 

§ 22. Now sith man understondeth 
generally, which is venial sinne, 
thanne is it covenable to tellen speci- 
ally of sinnes whiche that many a 
man per-aventure ne demeth hem 
nat sinnes, and ne shryveth him nat 
of the same thinges; and yet nathe- 
lees they been sinnes. / Soothly, as 
thise clerkes wryten, this is to seyn, 
that at every tyme that a man eteth 
or drinketh more than suffyseth to 
the sustenaunce of his body, in certein 
he dooth sinne. / And eek whan he 
speketh more than nedeth, it is 
sinne. Eke whan he herkneth nat 
benignely the compleint of the 
povre. / Eke whan he is in hele 
of body and wol nat faste, whan 
othere folk faste, withouten cause 
resonable. Eke whan he slepeth 
more than nedeth, or whan he comth 
by thilke enchesoun to late to chirche, 
or to othere werkes of charite. / 
Eke whan he useth his wyf, withouten 
sovereyn desyr of engendrure, to the 
honour of god, or for the entente to 
yelde to his wyf the dette of his 
body. / Eke whan he wol nat visite 375 



376-395-] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



281 



the sike and the prisoner, if he may. 
Eke if he love wyf or child, or other 
worldly thing, more than resoun 
requyreth. Eke if he flatere or blan- 
dishe more than him oghte for any 
necessitee. / Eke if he amenuse or 
withdrawe the almesse of the povre. 
Eke if he apparailleth his mete more 
deHciously than nede is, or ete it to 
hastily by likerousnesse./ Eke if he 
tale vanitees at chirche or at goddes 
service, or that he be a talker of ydel 
v^^ordes of folye or of vileinye; for 
he shal yelden acountes of it at the 
day of dome. / Eke w^han he bihe- 
teth or assureth to do thinges that he 
may nat perfourne. Eke whan that 
he, by lightnesse or folie, misseyeth 
or scorneth his neighebore. / Eke 
whan he hath any wikked suspecion 
of thing, ther he ne woot of it no 

380 soothfastnesse, / Thise thinges and 
mo with-oute nombre been sinnes, as 
seith seint Augustin./ 

Now shal men understonde, that 
al-be-it so that noon erthely man may 
eschue alle venial sinnes, yet may he 
refreyne him by the brenninge love 
that he hath to oure lord lesu Crist, 
and by preyeres and confession and 
othere gode werkes, so that it shal 
but htel greve. / For, as seith seint 
Augustin : ' if a man love god in 
cwiche manere, that al that evere he 
doth is in the love of god, and for the 
love of god verraily, for he brenneth 
in the love of god : / loke, how muche 
that a drope of water that fallath in a 
fourneys ful of fyr anoyeth or greveth, 
so muche anoyeth a venial sinne un-to 
a man that is parfit in the love of lesu 
Crist.' / Men may also refreyne venial 
sinne by receyvinge worthily of the 

385 precious body of lesu Crist; / by 
receyving eek of holy water; by 
almesdede; by general confession of 
Confiteor at masse and at complin; 
and by blessinge of bisshopes and 
of preestes, and by othere gode 
werkes. / 

Explicit secunda pars Peiiiteiitie. 



Seqiiitiir de Septem Peccatis Mortali- 
bus et eorwn dependenciis circum- 
stanciis et speciebus. 

§ 23. Now is it bihovely thing to 
telle whiche been the deedly sinnes, 
this is to seyn, chieftaines of sinnes; 
alle they renne in o lees, but in diverse 
maneres. Now been they cleped 
chieftaines for-as-muche as they been 
chief, and springers of alle othere 
sinnes. / Of the roote of thise sevene 
sinnes thanne is Pryde, the general 
rote of alle harmes; for of this rote 
springen certein braunches, as Ire, 
Envye, Accidie or Slewthe, Avarice 
or Coveitise (to commune under- 
stondinge),Glotonye, and Lecherye. / 
And everich of thise chief sinnes hath 
hise braunches and hise twigges, as 
shal be declared in hir chapitres 
folwinge. 

De Superbia. 

§ 24. And thogh so be that no man 
can outrely telle the nombre of the 
twigges and of the harmes that com- 
eth of Pryde, yet wol 1 shewe a partie 
of hem, as ye shul understonde. / 390 
Ther is Inobedience, Avauntinge, 
Ipocrisie, Despyt, iVrrogance, Impu- 
dence, SwelUnge of herte, Insolence, 
Elacion, Impacience, Strif, Contuma- 
cie, Presumpcion, Irreverence, Perti- 
nacie, Veyne Glorie; and many 
another twig that I can nat declare. / 
Inobedient, is he that disobeyeth for 
despyt to the comandements of god 
and to hise sovereyns, and to his 
goostly fader. / Avauntour, is he 
that bosteth of the harm or of the 
bountee that he hath doon. / Ipo- 
crite, is he that hydeth to shewe him 
swiche as he is, and sheweth him 
swiche as he noght is. / Despitous, 
is he that hath desdeyn of his neighe- 
bore, that is to seyn, of his evene- 
cristene, or hath despyt to doon that 
him oghte to do. / Arrogant, is he that 395 
thinketh that he hath thilke bountees 
in him that he hath noght, or weneth 
that he sholde have hem by hise 
desertes; or elles he demeth that he 



282 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



L396-420. 



be that he nis nat. / Impudent, is 
he that for his pride hath no shame of 
hise sinnes, / Swellinge of herte, is 
whan a man reioyseth him of harm 
that he hath doon. / Insolent, is he 
that despyseth in his lugement alle 
othere folk as to regard of his value, 
and of his conning, and of his spell- 
ing, and of his bering. / Elacion, is 
whan he ne may neither suffre to have 
400 maister ne felavve. / Impacient, is 
he that wol nat been y-taught ne 
undernome of his vyce, and by stryf 
werreieth trouthe \vitingly, and def- 
fendeth his folye. / Contuniax, is he 
th^t thurgh his indignacion is agayns 
everich auctoritee or power of hem 
that been hise sovereyns. / Presamp- 
cion, is whan a man undertaketh an 
empryse that him oghte nat do, or 
elles that he may nat do; and that is 
called Surquidrie. Irreverence, is 
whan men do nat honour there-as hem 
oghte to doon, and waiten to be 
reverenced. / Pertinacie, is whan 
man deffendeth his folye, and trusteth 
to muchel in his owene wit. / Veyne 
glorie, is for to have pompe and delyt 
in his temporel hynesse, and glorifie 
405 him in this worldly estaat. / langlinge, 
is whan men speken to muche biforn 
folk, and clappen as a mille, and taken 
no kepe what they seye. / 

§ 25. And yet is ther a privee spece 
of Pryde, that waiteth first to be 
salewed er he wole salevve, al be he 
lasse worth than that other is, per- 
aventure; and eek he waiteth or de- 
syreth to sitte, or elles to goon above 
him in the wey, or kisse pax, or been 
encensed, or goon to offring biforn 
his neighebore, / and swiche sem- 
blable thinges; agayns his duetee, 
per-aventure, but that he hath his 
herte and his entente in swich a proud 
desyr to be magnifyed and honoured 
biforn the peple. / 

§ 26. Now been ther two maneres 
of Pryde; that oon of hem is with- 
inne the herte of man, and that other 
is with-oute. / Of whiche soothly 
thise forseyde thinges, and mo than I 
have seyd, apertenen to pryde that is 



in the herte of man; and that othere 
speces of pryde been with-oute. / 410 
But natheles that oon of thise speces 
of pryde is signe of that other, right 
as the gaye leefsel atte taverne is 
signe of the wyn that is in the celer. / 
And this is in manye thinges : as in 
speche and countenaunce, and in out- 
rageous array of clothing; / forcertes, 
if ther ne hadde be no sinne in 
clothing, Crist wolde nat have noted 
and spoken of the clothing of thilke 
riche man in the gospel. / And, as 
seith Seint Gregorie, that precious 
clothing is coupable for the derthe of 
it, and for his softenesse, and for his 
strangenesse and degysinesse, and for 
the superfluitee, or for the inordinat 
scantnesse of it. / Alias ! may men 
nat seen, as in oure dayes, the sinful 
costlewe array of clothinge, and 
namely in to muche superfluitee, or 
elles in to desordinat scantnesse ? / 415 

§ 27. As to the firste sinne, that is 
in superfluitee of clothinge, which 
that maketh it so dere, to harm of 
the peple ; / nat only the cost of 
embroudinge, the degyse endentinge 
or barringe, oundinge, palinge, wind- 
inge, or bendinge, and semblable 
wast of clooth in vanitee ; / but ther 
is also costlewe furringe in hir gounes, 
so muche pounsoninge of chisels to 
maken holes, so muche dagginge of 
sheres ; / forth-vvith the superfluitee 
in lengthe of the forseide gounes, trail- 
inge in the dong and in the myre, on 
horse and eek on fote, as wel of man 
as of womman, that al thilke trailing 
is verraily as in effect wasted, con- 
sumed, thredbare, and roten with 
donge, rather than it is yeven to the 
povre; to greet damage of the for- 
seyde povre folk. / And that in 
sondry wyse : this is to seyn, that the 
more that clooth is wasted, the more 
it costeth to the peple for the scant- 
nesse; / and forther-over, if so be 420 
that they wolde yeven swich poun- 
soned and dagged clothing to the 
povre folk, it is nat convenient to 
were for hir estaat, ne suffisant to 
I bete hir necessitee, to kepe hem fro 



42I-443-] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



283 



the distemperance of the firmament. / 
Upon that other syde, to speken of 
the horrible disordinat scantnesse of 
clothing, as been thise cutted sloppes 
or hainselins, that thurgh hir short- 
nesse ne covere nat the shameful 
membres of man, to wikked entente./ 
Alias ! somme of hem shewen the 
b(jc^ of hir shap, and the horrible 
swollen membres, that semeth lyk 
the maladie of hirnia, in the wrap- 
pinge of hir hoses; / and eek the 
iDuttokes of hem faren as it were the 
hindre part of a she-ape in the fulle of 
the mone. / And more-over, the 
wrecched swollen membres that they 
shewe thurgh the degysinge, in de- 
partinge of hir hoses in whyt and 
reed, semeth that half hir shameful 

425 privee membres weren flayn. / And 
if so be that they departen hire hoses 
in othere colours, as is whyt and 
blak, or whyt and blew, or blak and 
reed, and so forth; / thanne semeth 
it, as by variance of colour, that half 
the partie of hir privee membres 
were corrupt by the fyr of seint 
Antony, or by cancre, or by other 
swich meschaunce. / Of the hindre 
part of hir buttokes, it is ful horrible 
for to see. For certes, in that partie 
of hir body ther-as they purgen hir 
stinkinge ordure, / that foule partie 
shewe they to the peple proudly in 
despyt of honestetee, the which hon- 
estetee that lesu Crist and hise 
freendes observede to shewen in hir 
lyve. / Now as of the outrageous 
array of wommen, god woot, that 
though the visages of somme of hem 
seme ful chaast and debonaire, yet 
notifie they in hir array of atyr liker- 

430 ousnesse and pryde. / I sey nat 
that honestetee in clothinge of man 
or womman is uncovenable, but 
certes the superfluitee or disordinat 
scantitee of clothinge is reprevable. / 
Also the sinne of aornement or of 
apparaille is in thinges that apertenen 
to rydinge, as in to manye delicat 
horses that been holden for delyt, 
that been so faire, fatte, and cost- 
lewe; / and also to many a vicious 



knave that is sustened by cause of 
hem; in to curious barneys, as in 
sadeles, in crouperes, peytrels, and 
brydles covered with precious cloth- 
ing and riche, barres and plates of 
gold and of silver. / For which god 
seith by Zakarie the prophete, * I wol 
confounde the ryderes of swiche 
horses.' / This folk taken litel re- 
ward of the rydinge of goddes sone 
of hevene, and of his barneys whan 
he rood up-on the asse, and ne hadde 
noon other barneys but the povre 
clothes of hise disciples; ne we ne 
rede nat that evere he rood on other 
beest. / I speke this for the sinne 435 
of superfluitee, and nat for reasona- 
ble honestetee, whan reson it requyr- 
eth. / And forther, certes pryde is 
greetly notified in holdinge of greet 
meinee, whan they be of litel profit 
or of right no profit. / And namely, 
whan that meinee is felonous and 
damageous to the peple, by hardi- 
nesse of heigh lordshipe or by wey of 
offices. / For certes, swiche lordes 
sellen thanne hir lordshipe to the 
devel of helle, whanne they sustenen 
the wikkednesse of hir meinee. / 
Or elles whan this folk of lowe de- 
gree, as thilke that holden hostelries, 
sustenen the thefte of hir hostilers, 
and that is in many manere of de- 
ceites./ Thilke manere of folk been 440 
the flyes that folwen the hony, or elles 
the houndes that folwen the careyne. 
Swiche forseyde folk stranglen spirit- 
ually hir lordshipes; / for which thus 
seith David the prophete, 'wikked 
deeth mote come up-on thilke lord- 
shipes, and god yeve that they mote de- 
scenden in-to helle al doun ; for in hir 
houses ben iniquitees and shrewed- 
nesses,' and nat god of hevene. / And 
certes, but-if they doon amendement, 
right as god yaf his benison to Laban 
by the service of lacob, and to Pha- 
rao by the service of loseph, right so 
god wol yeve his malison to swiche 
lordshipes as sustenen the wikked- 
nesse of hir servaunts, but-if they 
come to amendement. / Pryde of 
the table appereth eek ful ofte; for 



284 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[444-465 



certes, riche men been cleped to 
festes, and povre folk been put awey 
and rebuked. / Also in excesse of 
diverse metes and drinkes ; and 
namely, swiche manere bake metes 
and dish-metes, brenninge of wilde 
fyr, and peynted and castelled with 
papir, and semblable wast; so that it 

445 is abusion for to thinke. / And eek 
in to greet preciousnesse of vessel and 
curiositee of minstralcie, by whiche a 
man is stired the more to delyces of 
luxurie, / if so be that he sette his 
herte the lasse up-on oure lord lesu 
Crist, certein it is a sinne; and cer- 
teinly the delyces mighte been so 
grete in this caas, that man mighte 
lightly falle by hem in-to deedly 
sinne. / The especes that sourden 
of pryde, soothly whan they sourden 
of malice ymagined, avysed, and forn- 
cast, or elles of usage, been deedly 
synnes, it is no doute. / And whan 
they sourden by freletee unavysed 
sodeinly, and sodeinly withdrawon 
ayein, al been they grevouse sinnes, I 
gesse that they ne been nat deedly. / 
Now mighte men axe wher-of that 
Pryde sourdeth and springeth, and I 
seye : somtyme it springeth of the 
goodes of nature, and som-tyme of 
the goodes of fortune, and som-tyme 

450 of the goodes of grace. / Certes, the 
goodes of nature stonden outher 
in goodes of body or in goodes of 
soule. / Certes, goodes of body been 
hele of body, as strengthe, delivcr- 
nesse, beautee, gentrye, franchise. / 
Goodes of nature of the soule been 
good wit, sharp understondynge, sub- 
til engin, vertu naturel, good memo- 
rie. / Goodes of fortune been rich- 
esses, highe degrees of lordshipes, 
preisinges of the peple. / Gooiles 
of grace been science, power to suffre 
spirituel travaille, benignitee, vertuous 
contemplacion, withstondinge of 

♦55 temptacion, and semblable thinges. / 
Of whiche forseyde goodes, certes it 
is a ful greet folye a man to pryden 
him in any of hem alle. / Now as 
for to speken of goodes of nature, 
god woot that som-tyme we han 



hem in nature as muche to oure 
damage as to oure profit. / As, for 
to speken of hele of body; certes it 
passeth ful lightly, and eek it is ful 
ofte encheson of the siknesse of oure 
soule; for god woot, the flesh is a ful 
greet enemy to the soule : and ther- 
fore, the more that the body is hool, 
the more be we in peril to falle. / 
Eke for to pryde him in his strengthe 
of body, it is an heigh folye; for 
certes, the flesh coveiteth agayn the 
spirit, and ay the more strong that 
the flesh is, the sorier may the soule 
be : / and, over al this, strengthe of 
body and worldly hardinesse causeth 
ful ofte many a man to peril and mes- 
chaunce. / Eek for to pryde him 41 
of his gentrye is ful greet folye; for 
ofte tyme the gentrye of the body 
binimeth the gentrye of the soule; 
and eek we ben alle of o fader and 
of o moder; and alle we been of o 
nature roten and corrupt, both riche 
and povre. / For sothe, o manere 
gentrye is for to preise, that appar- 
ailleth mannes corage with vertues 
and moralitees, and maketh him 
Cristes child. / For truste wel, that 
over what man sinne hath maistrie, 
he is a verray cherl to sinne. / 

§ 28. Now been ther generale 
signes of gentilesse; as eschew- 
inge of vyce and ribaudye and serv- 
age of sinne, in word, in werk, and 
contenance; / and usinge vertu, cur- 
teisye, and clennessse, and to be 
liberal, that is to seyn, large by 
niesure; for thilke that passeth 
mesure is folye and sinne. / An- 465 
other is, to remembre him of boun- 
tee that he of other folk hath 
receyved. / Another is, to be be- 
nigne to hise goode subgetis; 
wherfore, as seith Senek, ' ther is 
no-thing more covenable to a man 
of heigh estaat than debonairetee 
and pitee. / And therfore thise 
flyes that men clepeth bees, whan 
they maken hir king, they chesen 
oon that hath no prikke wherwith 
he may stinge.' / Another is, a 
man to have a noble herte and a 



469-488.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



285 



diligent, to attayne to heighe vertu- 
ouse thinges. / Now certes, a man 
to pryde him in the goodes of grace 
is eek an outrageous folye; for thilke 
yiftes of grace that sholde have turned 
him to goodnesse and to medicine, 
turneth him to venim and to confu- 
470 sion, as seith seint Gregorie./ Certes 
also, who-so prydeth him in the 
goodes of fortune, he is a ful greet 
fool; forsom-tyme is a man a greet 
lord by the morwe, that is a caitif and 
a wrecche er it be night : / and som- 
tyme the richesse of a man is cause 
of his deeth ; somtyme the delyces of 
a man is cause of the grevous maladye 
thurgh which he dyeth. / Certes, 
the commendacion of the peple is 
somtyme ful fals and ful brotel for to 
triste; this day they preyse, tomorvve 
they blame. / God woot, desyr to 
have commendacion of the peple hath 
caused deeth to many a bisy man. / 

Re?nediicm contra peccatum 

Siiperbie. 

§ 29. Now sith that so is, that 

ye han understonde what is pryde, 

and whiche been the speces of it, 

and whennes pride sourdeth and 

475 springeth; / now shul ye under- 
stonde which is the remedie agayns 
the sinne of pryde, and that is, hu- 
militee or mekenesse. / That is a 
vertu, thurgh which a man hath 
verray knoweleche of him-self, and 
holdeth of him-self no prys ne deyn- 
tee as in regard of hise desertes, 
consideringe evere hise freletee. / 
Now been ther three maneres of 
humilitee; as humiltee in herte, and 
another humilitee in his mouth; the 
thridde in hise werkes. / The hu- 
militee in herte is in foure maneres : 
that con is, whan a man holdeth 
him-self as noght worth biforn god 
of hevene. Another is whan he ne 
despyseth noon other man. / The 
thridde is, whan he rekketh nat 
thogh men holde him noght worth. 
The ferthe is, whan he nis nat sory of 

480 his humiliacion. / Also, the humili- 
tee of mouth is in foure thinges : in 



attempree speche, and in humblesse 
of speche, and whan he biknoweth 
with his owene mouth that he is swich 
as him thinketh that he is in his herte. 
Another is, whan he preiseth the boun- 
tee of another man, and nothing 
ther-of amenuseth. / Humilitee eek 
in werkes is in foure maneres: the 
firste is, whan he putteth othere men 
biforn him. The seconde is, to chese 
the loweste place over-al. The thridde 
is, gladly to assente to good conseil./ 
The ferthe is, to stonde gladly to the 
award of hise sovereyns, or of him 
that is in hyer degree; certein, this is 
a greet werk of humilitee./ 

Sequitiir de Inuidia. 

§ 30. After Pryde wol I speken 
of the foule sinne of Envye, which 
is, as by the word of the philoso- 
phre, sorwe of other mannes pros- 
peritee; and after the word of 
seint Augustin, it is sorwe of other 
mannes wele, and loye of other 
mennes harm./ This foule sinne 
is platly agayns the holy goost. 
Al-be-it so that every sinne is agayns 
the holy goost, yet nathelees, for as 
muche as bountee aperteneth pro- 
prely to the holy goost, and Envye 
comth proprely of maUce, therfore 
it is proprely agayn the bountee of 
the holy goost./ Now hath malice 485 
two speces, that is to seyn, hard- 
nesse of herte in wikkednesse, or 
elles the flesh of man is so blind, 
that he considereth nat that he is 
in sinne, or rekketh nat that he 
is in sinne; which is the hardnesse 
of the devel. / That other spece 
of malice is, whan a man werreyeth 
trouthe, whan he woot that it is 
trouthe. And eek, whan he werrey- 
eth the grace that god hath yeve to 
his neighebore; and al this is by 
Envye. / Certes, thanne is Envye 
the worste sinne that is. For 
soothly, alle othere sinnes been 
som-tyme only agayns o special 
vertu; / but certes, Envye is agayns 
alle vertues and agayns alle good- 



286 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[489-511 



nesses; for it is sory of alle the 
bountees of his neighebore; and in 
this manere it is divers from alle 
othere sinnes. / For wel unnethe 
is ther any sinne that it ne hath 
som delyt in itself, save only Envye, 
that evere hath in itself anguish and 

490 sorvve. / The speces of Envye 
been thise : ther is Hrst, sorwe of 
other niannes goodnesse and of his 
prosperitee; and prosperitee is 
kindely matere of loye; thanne is 
Envye a sinne agayns kinde. / 
The seconde spece of Envye is 
loye of other mannes harm ; and 
that is proprely lyk to the devel, 
that evere reioyseth him of mannes 
harm. / Of thise two speces comth 
bakbyting; and this sinne of bak- 
byting or detraccion hath certeine 
speces, as thus. Som man preiseth 
his neighebore by a wikke en- 
tente; / for he maketh alvvey a 
wikked knotte atte laste ende. 
Alwey he maketh a 'but' atte laste 
ende, that is digne of more blame, 
than worth is al the preisinge. / 
The seconde spece is, that if a man 
be good and dooth or seith a thing 
to good entente, the bakbyter wol 
turne all thilke goodnesse up-so- 

495 doun to his shrewed entente. / The 
thridde is, to amenuse the bountee 
of his neighebore. / The fourthe 
spece of bakbyting is this; that if 
men speke goodnesse of a man, 
thanne wol the bakbyter seyn, * par- 
fey, swich a man is yet bet than 
he'; in dispreisinge of him that 
men preise./ The fifte spece is 
this; for to consente gladly and 
herkne gladly to the harm that 
men speke of other folk. This 
sinne is ful greet, and ay encreseth 
after the wikked entente of the 
bakbyter. / After bakbyting com- 
eth grucching or murmuracion; and 
somtyme it springeth of inpacience 
agayns god, and somtyme agayns 
man. / Agayns god it is, whan a 
man gruccheth agayn the peynes of 
helle, or agayns poverte, or los 
of catel, or agayn reyn or tempest; 



or elles gruccheth that shrewes han 
prosperitee, or elles for that goode 
men han adversitee. / And alle 
thise thinges sholde men suffre 
paciently, for they comen by the 
rightful lugement and ordinance 
of god. / Som-tyme comth grucch- 
ing of avarice; as ludas grucched 
agayns the Magdaleyne, whan she 
enoynte the heved of oure lord lesu 
Crist with hir precious oynement. / 
This maner murmure is swich as 
whan man gruccheth of goodnesse 
that him-self dooth, or that other 
folk doon of hir owene catel. / 
Som-tyme comth murmure of pryde; 
as whan Simon the Pharisee grucched 
agayn the Magdaleyne, whan she 
approched to lesu Crist, and weep 
at his feet for hir sinnes. / And 
somtyme grucching sourdeth of En- 
vye; whan men discovereth a mannes 
harm that was privee, or bereth 
him on bond thing that is fals. / 505 
Murmure eek is ofte amonges ser- 
vaunts, that grucchen whan hir 
sovereyns bidden hem doon leveful 
thinges; / and, for-as-muche as they 
dar nat openly withseye the co- 
maundements of hir sovereyns, yet 
wol they seyn harm, and grucche, 
and murmure prively for verray de- 
spyt; / whiche wordes men clepen 
the develes Patcr-7ioster, though so 
be that the devel ne hadde nevere 
Pater-nostcr, but that lewed folk yeven 
it swich a name. / Som tyme grucch- 
ing comth of ire or prive hate, that 
norisseth rancour in herte, as after- 
ward I shal declare. / Thanne com- 
eth eek bitternesse of herte; thurgh 
which bitternesse every good dede 
of his neighebor semeth to him bitter 
and unsavory./ Thanne comethsio 
discord, that unbindeth alle manere 
of frendshipe. Thanne comth scorn- 
inge, as whan a man seketh occa- 
sioun to anoyen his neighebor, 
al do he never so weel./ Thanne 
comth accusinge, as whan man 
seketh occasion to anoyen his 
neighebor, which that is lyk to the 
craft of the devel, that waiteth bothe 



512-534.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



287 



night and day to accusen us alle. / 
Thanne comth malignitee, thurgh 
which a man anoyeth his neighebor 
prively if he may; / and if he 
noght may, algate his wikked wil 
ne shal nat wante, as for to brennen 
his hous prively, or empoysone or 

|l sleen hise bestes, and semblable 

• thinges. / 

Remedium contra peccatuni Inuidie. 

§ 31. Now wol I speke of the 
ii remedie agayns this foule sinne of 
I Envye. First, is the love of god prin- 
' cipal, and loving of his neighebor as 
him-self; for soothly, that oon ne may 
515 nat been with-oute that other. / And 
truste wel, that in the name of thy 
neighebore thou shalt understonde 
the name of thy brother; for certes 
alle we have o fader fleshly, and o 
moder, that is to seyn, Adam and Eve ; 
and eek o fader espirituel, and that is 
H god of hevene. / Thy neighebore 
I artow holden for to love, and wilne 
T him alle goodnesse; and therfore 
seith god, ' love thy neighebore as 
thy-selve,' that is to seyn, to salvacion 
bothe of lyf and of soule. / And 
more-over, thou .shalt love him in 
word, and in benigne anionestinge, 
and chastysinge; and conforten him 
in hise anoyes, and preye for him with 
al thyn herte. / And in dede thou 
shalt love him in swich wyse, that thou 
shalt doon to him in charitee as 
thou woldest that it were doon to 
thyn owene persone. / And ther- 
fore, thou ne shalt doon him no dam- 
age in wikked word, ne harm in his 
body, ne in his catel, ne in his soule, 
520 by entysing of wikked ensample. / 
Thou shalt nat desyren his wyf, ne 
none of hise thinges. Understond 
eek, that in the name of neighebor 
is comprehended his enemy. / Cer- 
tes man shal loven his enemy by the 
comandement of god; and soothly 
thy frend shaltow love in God. / I 
seye, thyn enemy shaltow love for 
goddes sake, by his comandement. 
For if it were reson that a man sholde 



haten his enemy, for sothe god nolde 
nat receiven us to his love that been 
hise enemys. / Agayns three man- 
erc of wronges that his enemy dooth 
to hym, he shal doon three thinges, 
as thus. / Agayns hate and rancour 
of herte, he shal love him in herte. 
Agayns chyding and wikkede wordes, 
he shal preye for his enemy. And 
agayn the wikked dede of his enemy, 
he shal doon him bountee. / For 525 
Crist seith, ' loveth youre enemys, 
and preyeth for hem that speke yow 
harm; and eek for hem that yow 
chacen and pursewen, and doth boun- 
tee to hem that yow haten.' Lo, thus 
comaundeth us oure lord lesu Crist, 
to do to oure enemys. / For soothly, 
nature dryveth us to loven oure 
freendes, and parfey, oure enemys 
han more nede to love than oure 
freendes; and they that more nede 
have, certes, to hem shal men doon 
goodnesse; / and certes, in thilke 
dede have we remembrance of the 
love of lesu Crist, that deyde for hise 
enemys./ And in-as-muche as thilke 
love is the more grevous to perfourne, 
in-so-muche is the more gretter the 
merite; and therfore the lovinge of 
oure enemy hath confounded the 
venim of the devel. / For right as 
the devel is disconfited by humilitee, 
right so is he wounded to the deeth 
by love of oure enemy. / Certes, 530 
thanne is love the medicine that 
casteth out the venim of Envye fro 
mannes herte. / The speces of this 
pas shullen be more largely in hir 
chapitres folwinge declared. / 

Seqtdtur de Ira. 

§ 32. After Envye wol I discryven 
the sinne of Ire. For soothly, who- 
so hath envye upon his neighebor, 
anon he wole comunly finde him a 
matere of wratthe, in word or in dede, 
agayns him to whom he hath envye./ 
And as wel comth Ire of Pryde, as of 
Envye; for soothly, he that is proude 
or envious is lightly wrooth. / 

§ 33. This sinne of Ire, after the 



288 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[535-560. 



discryving of seint Augustin, is wik- 
ked vvil to been avenged by word or 

535 by dede. / Ire, after the philoso- 
phre, is the fervent blood of man 
y-quiked in his herte, thurgh wdiich 
he wole harm to him that he hateth./ 
For certes the herte of man, by es- 
chaufinge and moevinge of his blood, 
wexeth so trouble, that he is out of 
alle lugement of resoun. / But ye 
shal understonde that Ire is in two 
maneres; that oon of hem is good, 
and that other is wikked. / The 
gode Ire is by lalousye of goodnesse, 
thurgh which a man is wrooth with 
wikkednesse and agayns wikked- 
nesse; and therfore seith a wys man, 
that ' Ire is bet than pley.' / This 
Ire is with debonairetee, and it is 
wrooth withouten bitternesse; nat 
wrooth agayns the man, but wrooth 
with the misdede of the man ; as seith 
the prophete David, Irascimini et 

540 nolite peccare. / Now understond- 
eth, that wikked Ire is in two man- 
eres, that is to seyn, sodeyn Ire or 
hastif Ire, withouten avisemeiit and 
consentinge of resoun. / The men- 
ing and the sens of this is, that the 
resoun of man ne consente nat to 
thilke sodeyn Ire; and thanne it is 
venial. / Another Ire is ful wikked, 
that comth of felonye of herte avysed 
and cast biforn; with wikked vvil to 
do vengeance, and therto his resoun 
consenteth; and soothly this is deedly 
sinne. / This Ire is so displesant to 
god, that it troubleth his hous and 
chaceth the holy goost out of mannes 
soule, and wasteth and destroyeth the 
lyknesse of god, that is to seyn, the 
vertu that is in mannes soule; / and 
put in him the lyknesse of the devel, 
and binimeth the man fro god that is 

545 his rightful lord. / This Ire is a ful 
greet plesaunce to the devel; for it 
is the develes fourneys, that is es- 
chaufed with the fyr of helle. / For 
certes, right so as fyr is more mighty 
to destroyen erthely thinges than any 
other element, right so Ire is mighty 
to destroyen alle spirituel thinges. / 
Loke how that fyr of smale gledes. 



that been almost dede under asshen, 
wollen quike agayn whan they been 
touched with brimstoon ; right so Ire 
vvol everemo quiken agayn, whan it is 
touched by the pryde that is covered 
in mannes herte. / For certes fyrne 
may nat comen out of no-thing, but-if 
it were first in the same thing natur- 
elly; as fyr is drawen out of flintes 
with steel. / And right so as pryde 
is ofte tyme matere of Ire, right so is 
rancour norice and keper of Ire. / 550 
Ther is a maner tree, as seith seint 
Isidre, that whan men maken fyr of 
thilke tree, and covere the coles of it 
with asshen, soothly the fyr of it wol 
lasten al a yeer or more. / And right 
so fareth it of rancour; whan it is 
ones conceyved in the hertes of som 
men,certein, it wol lasten peraventure 
from oon Estre-day unto another 
Estre-day, and more. / But certes, 
thilke man is ful fer fro the mercy of 
god al thilke while. / 

§ 34. In this forseyde develes four- 
neys ther forgen three shrewes : 
Pryde, that ay bloweth and encreseth 
the fyr by chydinge and wikked 
wordes. / Thanne stant Envye, and 
holdeth the bote iren upon the herte 
of man with a peire of longe tonges 
of long rancour. / And thanne stant 555 
the sinne of contumelie or stryf and 
cheeste, and batereth and forgeth by 
vileyns reprevinges. / Certes, this 
cursed sinne anoyeth bothe to the 
man him-self and eek to his neighe- 
bor. For soothly, almost al the harm 
that any man dooth to his neighebore 
comth of wratthe. / For certes, out- 
rageous wratthe doth al that evere 
the devel him comaundeth; for he 
ne spareth neither Crist, ne his swete 
mooder. / And in his outrageous 
anger and Ire, alias ! alias ! ful many 
oon at that tyme feleth in his herte 
ful wikkedly, bothe of Crist and of 
alle hise halwes. / Is nat this a 
cursed vice? Yis, certes. Alias! it 
binimeth from man his wit and his 
resoun, and al his debonaire lyf espir- 
ituel that sholde kepen his soule. / 560 
Certes, it binimeth eek goddes due 



561-581.} 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



289 



lordshipe, and that is mannes soule, 
and the love of hise neighebores. It 
stryveth eek alday agayn trouthe. It 
reveth him the quiete of his herte, 
and subverteth his soule. / 

§ 35. Of Ire comen thise stinkinge 
engendrures : first hate, that is old 
wratthe; discord, thurgh which a 
man forsaketh his olde freend that 
he hath loved ful longe. / And 
thanne cometh werre, and every man- 
ere of wrong that man dooth to his 
neighebore, in body or in catel. / 
Of this cursed sinne of Ire cometh 
eek manslaughtre. And understonde 
wel, that homicyde, that is man- 
slaughtre, is in dyverse wyse. Som 
manere of homicyde is spirituel, and 
som is bodily. / Spirituel man- 
slaughtre is in six thinges. P'irst, by 
hate; as seint lohn seith, 'he that 

565 hateth his brother is homicyde.' / 
Homicyde is eek by bakbytinge; of 
whiche bakbyteres seith Salomon, that 
' they han two swerdes with whiche 
they sleen hir neighebores.' For 
soothly, as wikke is to binime his 
good name as his lyf. / Homicyde 
is eek, in yevinge of wikked conseil 
by fraude; as for to yeven conseil to 
areysen wrongful custumes and tail- 
lages. / Of whiche seith Salomon, 
* Leon rorynge and here hongry been 
lyke to the cruel lordshipes,' in with- 
holdinge or abregginge of the shepe 
(or the hyre), or of the wages of ser- 
vaunts, or elles in usure or in with- 
drawinge of the almesse of povre 
folk. / For which the wyse man 
seith, * fedeth him that almost dyeth 
for honger '; for soothly, but-if thou 
fede him, thou sleest him; and alle 
thise been deedly sinnes. / Bodily 
manslaughtre is, whan thow sleest 
him with thy tonge in other manere; 
as whan thou comandest to sleen a 
man, or elles yevest him conseil to 

570 sleen a man. / Manslaughtre in 
dede is in foure maneres. That oon 
is by lawe; right as a lustice damp- 
neth him that is coupable to the 
deeth. But lat the lustice be war 
that he do it rightfully, and that he 



do it nat for delyt to spille blood, but 
for kepinge of rightwisenesse. / An- 
other homicyde is, that is doon for 
necessitee, as whan o man sleeth an- 
other in his defendaunt, and that he 
ne may noon otherwise escape from 
his owene deeth. / But certeinly, if 
he may escape withouten manslaugh- 
tre of his adversarie, and sleeth him, 
he doth sinne, and he shal bere pen- 
ance as for deedly sinne. / Eek if 
a man, by caas or aventure, shete an 
arwe or caste a stoon with which he 
sleeth a man, he is homicyde. / Eek 
if a womman by necligence overlyeth 
hir child in hirsleping, it is homicyde 
and deedly sinne. / Eek whan man 575 
destourbeth concepcion of a child, and 
maketh a womman outher bareyne 
by drinkinge venemouse herbes, 
thurgh which she may nat conceyve, 
or sleeth a child by drinkes wilfully, 
or elles putteth certeine material 
thinges in hir secree places to slee 
the child; / or elles doth unkindely 
sinne, by which man or womman 
shedeth hir nature in manere or in 
place ther-as a child may nat be con- 
ceived; or elles, if a womman have 
conceyved and hurt hir-self, and 
sleeth the child, yet is it homicyde. / 
What seye we eek of wommen that 
mordren hir children for drede of 
worldly shame? Certes, an horrible 
homicyde. / Homicyde is eek if a 
man approcheth to a womman by 
desir of lecherye, thurgh which the 
child is perissed, or elles smyteth a 
womman witingly, thurgh which she 
leseth hir child. Alle thise been 
homicydes and horrible deedly 
sinnes. / Yet comen ther of Ire 
manye mo sinnes, as wel in word as 
in thoght and in dede; as he that 
arretteth upon god, or blameth god, 
of thing of which he is him-self gilty; 
or despyseth god and alle hise halwes, 
as doon thise cursede hasardours in 
diverse contrees. / This cursed sinne 580 
doon they, whan they felen in hir 
hertes ful wikkedly of god and of hise 
halwes. / Also, whan they treten 
unreverently the sacrement of the 



290 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[582-599. 



auter, thilke sinne is so greet, that 
unnethe may it been relesed, but that 
the mercy of god passeth alle hise 
werkes; it is so greet and he so be- 
nigne. / Thanne comth of Ire attry 
angre; whan a man is sharply amon- 
ested in his shrifte to forleten his 
sinne, / than wole he be angry and 
answeren hokerly and angrily, and 
deffenden or excusen his sinne by 
unstedefastnesse of his flesh; or elles 
he dide it for to holde companye with 
hise felawes, or elles, he seith, the 
fend entyced him; / or elles he dide 
it for his youthe, or elles his complex- 
ioun is so corageous, that he may nat 
forbere; or elles it is his destinee, as 
he seith, unto a certein age; or elles, 
he seith, it cometh him of gentillesse 
of hise auncestres; and semblable 

585 thinges. / Alle this manere of folk 
so wrappen hem in hir sinnes, that 
they ne wol nat delivere hem-self. 
For soothly, no wight that excuseth 
him wilfully of his sinne may nat been 
delivered of his sinne, til that he 
niekely biknoweth his sinne. / After 
this, thanne cometh swering, that is 
expres agayn the comandement of 
god; and this bifalleth ofte of anger 
and of Ire. / God seith : ' thou shalt 
nat take the name of thy lord god in 
veyn or in ydel.' Also oure lord 
lesu Crist seith by the word of seint 
Mathew: * N'oliie iurare omnino: f 
ne wol ye nat swere in alle manere; 
neither by hevene, for it is goddes 
trone; ne by erthe, for it is the bench 
of his feet; ne by lerusalem, for it is 
the citee of a greet king; ne by thyn 
heed, for thou mayst nat make an 
heer whyt ne blak. / But seyeth by 
youre word, " ye, ye," and " nay, 
nay"; and what that is more, it is 

590 of yvel,' seith Crist. / For Cristes 
sake, ne swereth nat so sinfully, in 
dismembringe of Crist by soule, herte, 
bones, and body. For certes, it sem- 
eth that ye thinke that the cursede 
lewes ne dismembred nat y-nough 
the preciouse persone of Crist, but ye 
dismembre him more. / And if so 
be that the lawe compelle yow to 



swere, thanne rule yow after the lawe 
of god in youre swering, as seith lere- 
mye quarto capitulo, ^liirabis in ver- 
itate, in iudicio et in itisticia: thou 
shalt kepe three condicions; thou 
shalt swere in trouthe, in doom, and 
in rightwisnesse.' / This is to seyn, 
thou shalt swere sooth; for every les- 
inge is agayns Crist. For Crist is 
verray trouthe. And think wel this, 
that every greet swerere, nat com- 
pelled lawefuUy to swere, the wounde 
shal nat departe from his hous whyl 
he useth swich unleveful swering. / 
Thou shalt sweren eek in doom, whan 
thou art constreyned by thy domes- 
man to witnessen the trouthe. / Eek 
thou shalt nat swere for envye ne for 
favour, ne for mede, but for rightwis- 
nesse; for declaracioun of it to the 
worship of god and helping of thyne 
evene-cristene. / And therfore, 595 
every man that taketh goddes name 
in ydel, or falsly swereth with his 
mouth, or elles taketh on him the 
name of Crist, to be called a Cristene 
man, and liveth agayns Cristes livinge 
and his techinge, alle they taken 
goddes name in ydel. / Loke eek 
what seint Peter seith, Adiiwn 
quarto capitulo, ^Non est aliud nomen 
sub celo^ &c. 'Ther nis noon other 
name,' seith seint Peter, ' under hev- 
ene, yeven to men, in which they 
mowe be saved;' that is to seyn, but 
the name of lesu Crist. / Take kepe 
eek how that the precious name of 
Crist, as seith seint Paul ad Philipenses 
sectindo, ^In nomine lesu, &c. : that 
in the name of lesu every knee of 
hevenely creatures, or erthely, or of 
helle sholden bowe'; for it is so 
heigh and so worshipful, that the cur- 
sede feend in helle sholde tremblen 
to heren it y-nempned. / Thanne 
semeth it, that men that sweren so 
horribly by his blessed name, that 
tliey despyse him more boldely than 
dide the cursede lewes, or elles the 
devel, that trembleth whan he hereth 
his name, / 

§ 36. Now certes, sith that swer- 
ing, but-if it be lawefuUy doon, is so 



600-622.J 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



291 



heighly deffended, muche worse is 
600 forswering falsly, and yet nedelees. / 
§ 37. What seye we eek of hem 
that delyten hem in swering, and 
holden it a gentrie or a manly dede 
to swere grele othes? And what of 
hem that, of verray usage, ne cesse 
nat to swere grete othes, al be the 
cause nat worth a straw? Certes, 
this is horrible sinne. / Sweringe 
sodeynly with-oute avysement is eek 
a sinne. / But lat us go now to 
thilke horrible swering of adiuracioun 
and coniuriacioun, as doon thise false 
enchauntours or nigromanciens in 
bacins ful of water, or in a bright 
swerd, in a cercle, or in a fyr, or in a 
shulderdjoon of a sheep. / I can 
nat seye but that they doon cursedly 
and damnably, agayns Crist and al 
the feith of holy chirche. / 

_ § 38. What seye we of hem that 
bileven in divynailes, as by flight or 
by noyse of briddes, or of bestes, or 
by sort, by geomancie, by dremes, by 
chirkinge of dores, or crakkinge of 
houses, by gnawynge of rattes, and 
605 swich manere wrecchednesse ? / 
Certes, al this thing is deffended by 
god and by al holy chirche. For 
which they been acursed, til they 
come to amendement, that on swich 
filthe setten hir bileve. / Charmes 
for woundes or maladye of men, or of 
bestes, if they taken any effect, it 
may be peraventure that god suffreth 
it, for folk sholden yeve the more 
feith and reverence to his name. / 

§ 39- Now wol I speken of les- 
inges, which generally is fals signitica- 
cioun of word, in entente to deceyven 
his evene-cristene. / Som lesinge is 
of which ther comth noon avantage 
to no wight : and som lesinge turneth 
to the ese or profit of o man, and to 
disese and damage of another man. / 
Another lesinge is for to saven his 
lyf or his catel. Another lesinge 
comth of delyt for to lye, in which 
delyt they wol forge a long tale, and 
peynten it with alle circumstaunces, 
where al the ground of the tale is 
610 fals. / bom lesinge comth, for he 



wole sustene his word; and som 
lesinge comth of recchelesnesse, 
with-outen avysement; and semblable 
thinges. / 

§ 40. I.at us now touche the vyce 
of flateringe, which ne comth nat 
gladly but for drede or for coveitise. / 
Flaterye is generally wrongful preis- 
inge. Flatereres been the develes 
norices, that norissen hise children 
with milk of losengerie. / For sothe, 
Salomon seith, that ' flaterie is wors 
than detraccioun.' For som-tyme 
detraccion maketh an hautein man be 
the more humble, for he dredeth de- 
traccion; but certes flaterye, that 
maketh a man to enhauncen his herte 
and his countenaunce. / Flatereres 
been the develes enchauntours; for 
they make a man towene of him-self 
be lyk that he nis nat lyk. / They 615 
been lyk to ludas that bitraysed [god; 
and thise flatereres bitraysen] a man 
to sellen him to his enemy, that is, 
to the devel. / Flatereres been the 
develes chapelleyns, that singen 
evere Placebo. / I rekene flaterye 
in the vyces of Ire; for ofte tyme, 
if o man be wrooth with another, 
thanne wol he flatere som wight to 
sustene him in his querele. / 

§ 41. Speke we now of swich curs- 
inge as comth of irons herte. Mali- 
soun generally may be seyd every 
maner power or harm. Swich 
cursinge bireveth man fro the 
regne of god, as seith seint Paul. / 
And ofte tyme swich cursinge 
wrongfully retorneth agayn to him 
that curseth, as a brid that retorneth 
agayn to his owene nest. / And 620 
over alle thing men oghten eschewe 
to cursen hir children, and yeven to 
the devel hir engendrure, as ferforth 
as in hem is; certes, it is greet peril 
and greet sinne. / 

§ 42. Lat us thanne speken of 
chydinge and reproche, whiche been 
ful grete woundes in mannes herte; 
for they unsowen the semes of frend- 
shipe in mannes herte. / For certes, 
unnethes may a man pleynly beer ac- 
corded with him that hath him openly 



292 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[623-64J 



revyled and repreved in disclaundre. 
This is a ful grisly sinne, as Crist seith 
in the gospel. / And tak kepe now, 
that he that repreveth his neighebor, 
outher he repreveth him by som harm 
of peyne that he hath on his body, as 

* mjsel,' * croked harlot,' or by som 
sinne that he dooth. / Now if he 
repreve him by harm of peyne, thanne 
turneth the repreve to lesu Crist; for 
peyne is sent by the rightwys sonde 
of god, and by his suffrance, be it 

625 meselrie, or maheym, or maladye. / 
And if he repreve him uncharitably 
of sinne, as, * thou holour,' ' thou 
dronkelewe harlot,' and so forth ; 
thanne aperteneth that to the reioys- 
inge of the devel, that evere hath loye 
that men doon sinne. / And certes, 
chydinge may nat come but out of a 
vileyns herte. For after the habun- 
dance of the herte speketh the mouth 
ful ofte, / And ye shul understonde 
that loke, by any wey, whan any man 
shal chastyse another, that he be war 
from chydinge or reprevinge. For 
trewely, but he be war, he may ful 
lightly quiken the fyr of angre and 
of wratthe, which that he sholde 
quenche, and per-aventure sleeth him 
which that he mighte chastyse with 
benignitee. / For as seith Salomon, 

* the amiable tonge is the tree of lyf,' 
that is to seyn, of lyf espirituel : and 
sothly, a deslavee tonge sleeth the 
spirites of him that repreveth, and 
eek of him that is repreved, / Lo, 
what seith seint Augustin : ' ther is 
no-thing so lyk the develes child as he 
that ofte chydeth.' Seint Paul seith 
eek : ' I, servant of god, bihove nat to 

630 chyde.'/ And how that chydinge be a 
vileyns thing bitwixe alle manere folk, 
yet it is certes most uncovenable 
. bitwixe a man and his wyf; for there 
is nevere reste. And therfore seith 
Salomon, * an hous that is uncovered 
and droppinge, and a chydinge wyf, 
been lyke.'/ A man that is in a 
droppinge hous in many places, 
though he eschewe the droppinge o 
place, it droppeth on him in another 
place; so fareth it by a chydinge wyf. 



But she chyde him in o place, she 
wol chyde him in another. / And 
therfore, ' bettre is a morsel of breed 
with loye than an hous ful of delyces, 
with chydinge,' seith Salomon. / 
Seint Paul seith : ' O ye wommen, be 
ye subgetes to youre housbondes as 
bihoveth in god; and ye men, loveth 
youre wyves.' Ad Colossenses, tertio.f 

§ 43. Afterward speke we of scorn- 
inge, which is a wikked sinne; and 
namely, whan he scorneth a man for 
hise gode werkes. / Por certes, 635 
swiche scorneres faren lyk the foule 
tode, that may nat endure to smelle 
the sote savour of the vyne whanne 
it florissheth. / Thise scorneres been 
parting felawes with the devel; for 
they han loye whan the devel winneth, 
ancl sorwe whan he leseth. / They 
been adversaries of lesu Crist; for 
they haten that he loveth, that is to 
seyn, salvacion of soule. / 

§ 44. Speke we now of wikked 
conseil; for he that wikked con- 
seil yeveth is a traytour. For he 
deceyveth him that trusteth in him, ut 
AcJiitofel ad Absolonem. But nathe- 
less, yet is his wikked conseil first 
agayn him- self. / For, as seith the 
wyse man, every fals livinge hath this 
propertee in him-self, that he that 
wole anoye another man, he anoyeth 
him-self./ And men shul under- 640 
stonde, that man shal nat taken his 
conseil of fals folk, ne of angry folk, 
or grevous folk, ne of folk that loven 
specially to muchel hir owene profit, 
ne to muche worldly folk, namely, in 
conseilinge of soules. / 

§ 45. Now comth the sinne of hem 
that sowen and maken discord 
amonges folk, which is a sinne that 
Crist hateth outrely; and no wonder 
is. For he deyde for to make con- 
cord. / And more shame do they to 
Crist, than dide they that him cruci- 
fyede; for god loveth bettre, that 
frendshipe be amonges folk, than he 
dide his owene body, the which that 
he yaf for unitee. Therfore been they 
lykned to the devel, that evere been 
aboute to maken discord. / 



644-664.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



293 



§ 46. Now comth the sinne of 
double tonge; swiche as speken faire 
biforn folk, and wikkedly bihinde; or 
elles they maken semblant as though 
they speke of good entencioun, or 
elles in game and pley, and yet they 
speke of wikked entente. / 

§ 47. Now comth biwreying of con- 
seil, thurgh which a man is defamed; 
certes, unnethe may he restore the 
645 damage. / 

Now comth manace, that is an open 
folye; for he that ofte manaceth, he 
threteth more than he may perfourne 
ful ofte tyme. / 

Now Cometh ydel wordes, that is 
with-outen profit of him that speketh 
tho wordes, and eek of him that 
herkneth tho wordes. Or elles ydel 
wordes been tho that been nedelees, 
or with-outen entente of nature! 
profit. / And al-be-it that ydel wordes 
been som tyme venial sinne, yet 
sholde men douten hem; for we shul 
yeve rekeninge of hem bifore god. / 

Now comth langlinge, that may nat 
been withoute sinne. And, as seith 
Salomon, ' it is a sinne of apert folye.'/ 
And therfore a philosophre seyde, 
whan men axed him how that men 
sholde plese the peple; and he an- 
swerde, * do many gode werkes, and 
650 spek fewe Tangles.' / 

After this comth the sinne of 
laperes, that been the develes apes; 
for they maken folk to laughe at hir 
laperie, as folk doon at the gaudes of 
an ape. Swiche laperes deffendeth 
seint Paul. / Loke how that vertu- 
ouse wordes and holy conforten hem 
that travaillen in the service of Crist; 
right so conforten the vileyns wordes 
and knakkes of laperis hem that tra- 
vaillen in the service of the devel. / 
Thise been the sinnes that comen of 
the tonge, that comen of Ire and of 
othere sinnes mo. / 

Sequitur remediufn contra peccatutn 

Ire. 

§ 48. The remedye agayns Ire is a 

vertu that men clepen Mansuetude, 

that is Debonairetee; and eek an- 



other vertu, that men callen Pacience 
or Suffrance. / 

§ 49. Debonairetee withdraweth 
and refreyneth the stiringes and the 
moevynges of mannes corage in his 
herte, in swich manere that they ne 
skippe nat out by angre ne by Ire. / 655 
Suffrance suffreth swetely alle the 
anoyaunces and the wronges that 
men doon to man outward, / Seint 
lerome seith thus of debonairetee, 
that ' it doth noon harm to no wight, 
ne seith; ne for noon harm that men 
doon or seyn, he ne eschaufeth nat 
agayns his resoun. ' / This vertu som- 
tyme comth of nature; for, as seith 
the philosophre, ' a man is a quik 
thing, by nature debonaire and tret- 
able to goodnesse; but whan debon- 
airetee is enformed of grace, thanne 
is it the more worth.' / 

§ 50. Pacience, that is another 
remedye agayns Ire, is a vertu that 
suffreth swetely every mannes good- 
nesse, and is nat wrooth for noon 
harm that is doon to him. / The 
philosophre seith, that ' pacience is 
thilke vertu that suffreth debonairely 
alle the outrages of adversitee and 
every wikked word.'/ This vertu 660 
maketh a man lyk to god, and niak- 
eth him goddes owene dere child, as 
seith Crist. This vertu disconfiteth 
thyn enemy. And therfore seith the 
wyse man, *if thou wolt venquisse 
thyn enemy, lerne to suffre.' / And 
thou shalt understonde, that man 
suffreth foure manere of grevances 
in outward thinges, agayns the 
whiche foure he moot have foure 
manere of paciences. / 

§ 51. The firste grevance is of wik- 
kede wordes; thilke suffrede lesu 
Crist with-outen grucching, ful pa- 
ciently, whan the lewes despysed and 
repreved him ful ofte. / Suffre thou 
therfore paciently; for the wyse man 
seith : * if thou stryve with a fool, 
though the fool be wrooth or though 
he laughe, algate thou shalt have no 
reste.' / That other grevance out- 
ward is to have damage of thy catel. 
Ther-agayns suffred Crist ful paciently. 



294 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[665-685. 



whan he was despoyled of al that he 
hadde in this lyf, and that nas but 

665 hise clothes. / The thridde grev- 
ance is a man to have harm in his 
body. That suffred Crist ful pa- 
ciently in al his passioun. / The 
fourthe grevance is in outrageous 
labour in werkes. Wherfore I seye, 
that folk that maken hir servants to 
travaillen to grevously, or out of 
tyme, as on halydayes, soothly they 
do greet sinne. / Heer-agayns suf- 
fred Crist ful paciently, and taughte 
us pacience, whan he bar up- on his 
blissed shulder the croys, up-on which 
he sholde suffren despitous deeth. / 
Heer may men lerne to be pacient; 
for certes, noght only Cristen men 
been pacient for love of lesu Crist, 
and for guerdoun of the blisful lyf 
that is perdurable; but certes, the 
olde payens, that nevere were Cris- 
tene, commendeden and useden the 
vertu of pacience. / 

§ 52. A philosophre up-on a tyme, 
that wolde have beten his disciple for 
his grete trespas, for which he was 
greetly amoeved, and l:)roghte a yerde 

670 to scourge the child; / and whan this 
child saugh the yerde, he seyde to 
his maister, 'what thenke ye to do?' 

* I wol bete thee,' quod the maister, 

* for thy correccion.' / ' For sothe,' 
quod the child, *ye oghten first cor- 
recte youre-self, that haii lost al youre 
pacience for the gilt of a child.' / 
' For sothe,' quod the maister al wep- 
inge, ' thou seyst sooth ; have thou the 
yerde, my dere sone, and correcte me 
for myn inpacience.' / Of Pacience 
comth Obedience, thurgh which a man 
is obedient to Crist and to alle hem 
to whiche he oghte to been obedient 
in Crist. / And understond wel that 
obedience is perfit, whan that a man 
doth gladly and hastily, with good 

675 herte entierly, al that he sholde do. / 
Obedience generally, is to perfourne 
the doctrine of god and of his 
sovereyns, to whiche him oghte 
to ben obeisaunt in alle rightvvys- 
nesse. / 



Sequitur de Accidia. 

§ 53. After the sinnes of Envie and 
of Ire, now wol I spekcn of the sinne 
of Accidie. For Fnvye blindeth the 
herte of a man, and Ire troubleth a 
man; and Accidie maketh him hevy, 
thoghtful, and wrawe. / Envye and 
Ire maken bitternesse in herte; whicli 
bitternesse is moder of Accidie, and 
biiiiineth him the love of alle good- 
nesse. Thanne is Accidie the an- 
guissh of a trouble herte; and seint 
Augustin seith : 'it is anoy of good- 
nesse and loye of harm.' / Certes, 
this is a dampnable sinne; for it doth 
wrong to lesu Crist, in-as-niuche as 
it binimeth the service that men oghte 
doun to Crist with alle diligence, as 
seith Salomon. / But Accidie dooth 
no swich diligence; he dooth alle 
thing with anoy, and with wraw- 
nesse, slaknesse, and excusacioun, 
and with ydelnesse and unlust; for 
which the book seith: 'acursed be 
he that doth the service of god nec- 
ligently.' / Thanne is Accidie enemy 680 
to everich estaat of man; for certes, 
the estaat of man is in three maneres./ 
Outher it is thestaat of innocence, as 
was thestaat of Adam l)iforn that he 
fil into sinne; in which estaat he was 
holden to wirche, as in heryinge and 
adouringe of god. / Another estaat 
is the estaat of sinful men, in which 
estaat men been holden to laboure in 
preyinge to god for amendement of 
hir sinnes, and that he wole graunte 
hem to arysen out of hir sinnes. / 
Another estaat is thestaat of grace, in 
which estaat he is holden to werkes 
of penitence; and certes, to alle thise 
thinges is Accidie enemy and con- 
trarie. For he loveth no bisinesse at 
al. / Now certes, this foule sinne 
Accidie is eek a ful greet enemy to 
the lyflode of the body-; for it ne 
hath no purveaunce agayn temporel 
necessitee; for it forsleweth and for- 
sluggeth, and destroyeth alle goodes 
temporeles by reccheleesnesse. / 685 

§ 54. The fourthe thinge is, that 
Accidie is lyk to hem that been in the 



686-708.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



295 



peyne of helle, by-cause of hir slouthe 
and of hir hevinesse; for they that 
been dampned been so bounde, that 
they ne may neither wel do ne wel 
thinke. / Of Accidie comth first, that 
a man is anoyed and encombred for 
to doon any goodnesse, and maketh 
that god hath abhominacion of swich 
Accidie, as seith seint lohan. / 

§ 55. Now comth Slouthe, that wol 
nat suffre noon hardnesse ne no pen- 
aunce. For soothly, Slouthe is so 
tendre, and so delicat, as seith Salo- 
mon, that he wol nat suffre noon hard- 
nesse ne penaunce, and therfore he 
shendeth al that he dooth. / Agayns 
this roten-herted sinne of Accidie and 
Slouthe sholde men exercise hem-self 
to doon gode werkes, and manly and 
vertuously cacchen corage wel to 
doon; thinkinge that oure lord lesu 
Crist quyteth every good dede, be it 
never so lyte. / Usage of labour is 
a greet thing; for it maketh, as seith 
seint Bernard, the laborer to have 
stronge amies and harde sinwes; and 
Slouthe maketh hem feble and ten- 

690 dre. / Thanne comth drede to bi- 
ginne to werke any gode werkes; for 
certes, he that is enclyned to sinne, 
him thinketh it is so greet an empryse 
for to undertake to doon werkes of 
goodnesse, / and casteth in his herte 
that the circumstaunces of good- 
nesse been so grevouse and so charge- 
aunt for to suffre, that he dar nat 
undertake to do werkes of goodnesse, 
as seith seint Gregorie. / 

§ 56. Now comth wanhope, that is 
despair of the mercy of god, that 
comth somtyme of to muche outrage- 
ous sorwe, and somtyme of to muche 
drede; imagininge that he hath doon 
so muche sinne, that it wol nat avail- 
len him, though he wolde repenten 
him and forsake sinne : / thurgh which 
despeir or drede he abaundoneth al 
his herte to every maner sinne, as 
seith seint Augustin. / Which damp- 
nable sinne, if that it continue un-to 
his ende, it is cleped sinning in the 

695 holy gost. / This horrible sinne is 
so perilous, that he that is despeired, 



ther nis no felonye ne no sinne that 
he douteth for to do; as shewed wel 
by ludas. / Certes, aboven alle 
sinnes thanne is this sinne most dis- 
plesant to Crist, and most adversa- 
rie. / Soothly, he that despeireth 
him is lyk the coward champioun 
recreant, that seith creant withoute 
nede. Alias ! alias ! nedeles is he 
recreant and nedeles despeired. / 
Certes, the mercy of god is evere redy 
to every penitent, and is aboven alle 
hise werkes. / Alias ! can nat a man 
bithinke him on the gospel of seint 
Luk, 15., where-as Crist seith that 

* as wel shal ther be loye in hevene 
upon a sinful man that doth penitence, 
as up-on nynete and nyne rightful 
men that neden no penitence? '/ 700 
Loke forther, in the same gospel, the 
loye and the feste of the gode man 
that hadde lost his sone, whan his 
sone with repentaunce was retourned 

to his fader. / Can they nat remem- 
bren hem eek, that, as seith seint Luk 
xxiii^ capitulo, how that the theef 
that was hanged bisyde lesu Crist, 
seyde : * Lord, remembre of me, whan 
thou comest in-to thy regne?'/ 

* For sothe,' seyde Crist, * 1 seye to 
thee, to-day shaltow been with me in 
Paradys.' / Certes, ther is noon so 
horrible sinne of man, that it ne may, 
in his lyf, be destroyed by penitence, 
thurgh vertu of the passion and of 
the deeth of Crist. / Alias ! what 
nedeth man thanne to been despeired, 
sith that his mercy so redy is and 
large? Axe and have./ Thanne 705 
Cometh Sompnolence, that is, sluggy 
slombringe, which maketh a man be 
hevy and dul, in body and in soule; 
and this sinne comth of Slouthe. / 
And certes, the tyme that, by wey of 
resoun, men sholde nat slepe, that 

is by the morwe; but-if ther were 
cause resonable. / For soothly, the 
morwe-tyde is most co^enable, a man 
to seye his preyeres, and for to thinken 
on god, and for to honoure god, and 
\.o yeven almesse to the povre, that 
first Cometh in the name of Crist. / 
Lo ! what seith Salomon : * who-SQ 



296 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[709-731- 



wolde by the morwe awaken and seke 
me, he shal finde.' / Thanne cometh 
Necligence, or recchelesnesse, that 
rekketh of no-thing. And how that 
ignoraunce be moder of alle harm, 

710 certes, Necligence is the norice. / 
Necligence ne doth no fors, whan he 
shal doon a thing, whether he do it 
weel or baddely. / 

§ 57. Of the remedie of thise two 
sinnes, as seith the wyse man, that 
* he that dredeth god, he spareth nat 
to doon that him oghte doon.' / And 
he that loveth god, he wol doon dili- 
gence to plese god by his werkes, 
and abaundone him-self, with al his 
might, wel for to doon. / Thanne 
comth ydelnesse, that is the yate of 
alle harmes. An ydel man is lyk to 
a place that hath no walles; the 
develes may entre on every syde and 
sheten at him at discovert, by tempta- 
cion on every syde. / This ydelnesse 
is the thurrok of alle wikked and 
vileyns thoghtes, and of alle langles, 

715 trufles, and of alle ordure. / Certes, 
the hevene is yeven to hem that wol 
labouren, and nat to ydel folk. Eek 
David seith : that * they ne been nat 
in the labour of men, ne they shul 
nat been whipped with men,' that is 
to seyn, in purgatorie. / Certes, 
thanne semeth it, they shul be tor- 
mented with the devel in helle, but-if 
they doon penitence. / 

§ 58. Thanne comth the sinne that 
men clepen Tarditas^ as whan a man 
is to latrede or taryinge, er he wole 
turne to god; and certes, that is a 
greet folye. He is lyk to him that 
falleth in the dich, and wol nat aryse./ 
And this vyce comth of a fals hope, 
that he thinketh that he shal live 
longe; but that hope faileth ful ofte./ 
§ 59. Thanne comth Lachesse; 
that is he, that whan he biginnethany 
good werk, anon he shal forleten it 
and stinten; as doon they that han 
any wight to governe, and ne taken 
of him na-more kepe, anon as they 

720 finden any contrarie or any anoy. / 
Thise been the newe shepherdes, 
that leten hir sheep vvitingly go rrnne 



to the wolf that is in the breres, or do 
no fors of hir owene governaunce. / 
Of this comth poverte antl destruc- 
cioun, Vjothe of spirituel and tempore! 
thinges. Thanne comth a manere 
coldnesse, that freseth al the herte of 
man. / Thanne comth undevocioun, 
thurgh which a man is so blent, as 
seith Seint Bernard, and hath swiche 
langour in soule, that he may neither 
rede ne singe in holy chirche, nehere 
ne thinke of no devocioun, ne tra- 
vaille witli hise handes in no good 
werk, that it nis him unsavory and al 
apalled. / Thanne wexeth he slow 
and slombry, and sone wol be wrooth, 
and sone is enclyned to hate and to 
envye. / Thanne comth the sinne 
of worldly sorwe, swich as is cleped 
tristicia, that sleeth man, as seint 
Paul seith. / For certes, swich sorwe 725 
werketh to the deeth of the soule and 
of the body also; for ther-of comth, 
that a man is anoyed of his owene 
lyf. / Wherfore swich sorwe short- 
eth ful ofte the lyf of a man, er that 
his tyme be come by wey of kinde. / 

Ronedium contra peccatuvi Accidie. 

§ 60. Agayns this horrible sinne of 
Accidie, and the branches of the 
same, ther is a vertu that is called 
J'oi'liludo or Strengthe; that is, an 
affeccioun thurgh which a man de- 
spyseth anoyous thinges. / This 
vertu is so mighty and so vigorous, 
that it dar withstonde mightily and 
wysely kepen him-self fro perils that 
been wikked, and wrastle agayn the 
assautes of the devel. / For it en- 
haunceth and enforceth the soule, 
right as Accidie abateth it and mak- 
eth it feble. For this Fortitudo may 
endure by long suffraunce the tra- 
vailles that been covenable. / T}fl 

§ 61. This vertu hath manyespeces; 
and the hrste is cleped Magnanimitee, 
that is to seyn, greet corage. For 
certes, ther bihoveth greet corage 
agains Accidie, lest that it ne swolwe 
the soule by the sinne of sorwe, or 
destroye it by wanhope. / This vertu 



732-752.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



297 



maketh folk to undertake harde 
thinges and grevuuse thinges, by hir 
owene vvil, wysely and resonably. / 
And for as muchel as the devel fighteth 
agayns a man more by queyntise and 
by sleighte than by strengthe, ther- 
fore men shal withstonden him by 
wit and by resoun and by discre- 
cioun. / Thanne arn ther the vertues 
of feith, and hope in god and in hise 
seintes, to acheve and acomplice the 
gode werkes in the whiche he purpos- 
eth fermely to continue. / Thanne 
comth seuretee or sikernesse; and 
that is, whan a man ne douteth no 
travaille in tyme cominge of the gode 
735 werkes that a man hath bigonne. / 
Thanne comth Magnificence, that is 
to seyn, whan a man dooth and per- 
fourneth grete werkes of goodnesse 
that he hath bigonne; and that is 
the ende why that men sholde do 
gode werkes; for in the acomplissinge 
of grete goode werkes lyth the grete 
guerdoun. / Thanne is ther Con- 
staunce, that is, stablenesse of corage ; 
and this sholde been in herte by stede- 
fast feith, and in mouth, and in ber- 
inge, and in chere and in dede. / 
Eke ther been mo speciale remedies 

kagains Accidie, in diverse werkes, and 
in consideracioun of the peynes of 
helle, and of the loyes of hevene, and 
in trust of the grace of the holy goost, 
that wole yeve him might to perfourne 
his gode entente. / 

Sequitur de Auaricia. 

§ 62. After Accidie wol I speke of 
Avarice and of Coveitise, of which 
sinne seith seint Paule, that 'the 
rote of alle harmes is Coveitise ' : Ad 
Timotheiwi, sexto capitulo. / For 
soothly, whan the herte of a man is 
confounded in it-self and troubled, 
and that the soule hath lost the con- 
fort of god, thanne seketh he an ydel 
740 solas of worldly thinges. / 

§ 63. Avarice, after the descripcion 
of seint Augustin, is likerousnesse in 
herte to have erthely thinges. / Som 
othf^r folk seyn, that Avarice is, for 
to purcliacen manye erthely thinges, 



and no thing yeve to hem that han 
nede. / And understond, that Avarice 
ne stant nat only in lond ne catel, but 
somtyme in science and in glorie, and 
in every manere of outrageous thing 
is Avarice and Coveitise. / And the 
difference bitwixe Avarice and Covei- 
tise is this. Coveitise is for to coveite 
swiche thinges as thou hast nat; and 
Avarice is for to withholde and kepe 
swiche thinges as thou hast, with- 
oute rightful nede. / Soothly, this 
Avarice is a sinne that is ful damp- 
nable; for al holy writ curseth it, and 
speketh agayns that vyce ; for it dooth 
wrong to lesu Crist. / For it bireveth 7^c 
him the love that men to him owen, 
and turneth it bakward agayns alle 
resoun; /and maketh that the avari- 
cious man hath more hope in his 
catel than in lesu Crist, and dooth 
more observance in kepinge of his 
tresor than he dooth to service of 
lesu Crist. / And therfore seith 
seint Paul ad Ephesios, quinto., that 
* an avaricious man is in the thraldom 
of ydolatrie.' / 

§ 64. What difference is bitwixe an 
ydolastre and an avaricious man, but 
that an ydolastre, per aventure, ne 
hath but o mawmet or two, and the 
avaricious man hath manye? For 
certes, every florin in his cofre is his 
mawmet. / And certes, the sinne of 
Mawmetrye is the firste thing that 
God deffended in the ten comaund- 
ments, as bereth witnesse Exodiy 
capitulo xx'^ : / ' Thou slialt have no 75c 
false goddes bifore me, ne thou shalt 
make to thee no grave thing.' Thus 
is an avaricious man, that loveth his 
tresor biforn god, an ydolastre, / 
thurgh this cursed sinne of Avarice. 
Of Coveitise comen thise harde lord- 
shipes, thurgh whiche men been dis- 
treyned by tallages, custumes, and 
cariages, more than hir duetee or 
resoun is. And eek they taken of 
hir bonde-men amerciments, whiche 
mighten more resonably ben cleped 
extorcions than amerciments. / Of 
whiche amerciments and raunsoninge 
of bondemen, somme lordes sty wardes 



298 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[753-774. 



seyn, that it is rightful; for-as-muche 
as a cherl hath no temporel thing 
that it ne is his lordes, as they seyn./ 
But certes, thise lordshipes doon 
wrong, that bireven hir bonde-folk 
thinges that they nevere yave hem: 
Augustinus de Civitate, libro nono. / 
Sooth is, that the condicioun of thral- 
dom and the firste cause of thraldom 

755 is for sinne; Genesis, quinto. / 

§ 65. Thus may ye seen that the 
gilt disserveth thraldom, but nat 
nature. / Wherfore thise lordes ne 
sholde nat muche glorifyen hem in 
hir lordshipes, siththat by naturel con- 
dicion they been nat lordes of thralles ; 
but for that thraldom comth first 
by the desert of sinne. / And forther- 
over, ther-as the lawe seith, that tem- 
porel godes of bonde-folk been the 
godes of hir lordshipes, ye, that is 
for to understonde, the godes of the 
emperour, to deffenden hem in hir 
right, but nat for to robben hem ne 
reven hem. / And therfore seith 
Seneca : * thy prudence sholde live 
benignely with thy thralles.' / Thilke 
that thou clepest thy thralles been 
goddes peple; for humble folk been 
Cristes freendes; they been contuber- 

760 nial with the lord. / 

§ 66. Think eek, that of swich seed 
as cherles springeth, of swich seed 
springen lordes. As wel may the 
cherl be saved as the lord. / The 
same deeth that taketh the cherl, swich 
deeth taketh the lord. Wherfore I 
rede, do right so with thy cherl, as thou 
woldest that thy lord dide with thee, 
if thou were in his plyt. / Every 
sinful man is a cherl to sinne. 
I rede thee, certes, that thou, lord, 
werke in svviche vvyse with thy 
cherles, that they rather love thee 
than drede. / I woot wel ther is 
degree above degree, as reson is; and 
skile it is, that men do hir devoir 
ther-as it is due ; but certes, extorcions 
and despit of youre underlinges is 
dampnable. / 

§ 67. And forther-over understond 
wel, that thise conquerours or tiraunts 
maken ful ofte thralles of hem, that 



been born of as royal blood as been 
they that hem conqueren. / This 765 
name of thraldom was nevere erst ^: 
couth, til that Noe seyde, that his i 
sone Canaan sholde be thral to hise \ 
bretheren for his sinne./ What seye 
we thanne of hem that pilen and doon 
extorcions to holy chirche? Certes, 
the swerd, that men yeven first to a 
knight whan he is newe dubbed, 
signifyeth that he sholde deffenden 
holy chirche, and nat robben it ne 
pilen it; and whoso dooth, is traitour 
to Crist. / And, as seith seint Augus- 
tin, ' they been the develes wolves, 
that stranglen the sheep of lesu 
Crist'; and doon worse than wolves. / 
For soothly, whan the wolf hath ful 
his wombe, he stinteth to strangle 
sheep. But soothly, the pilours and 
destroyours of goddes holy chirche 
ne do nat so ; for they ne stinte nevere 
to pile. / Now, as I have seyd, sith 
so is that sinne was first cause of 
thraldom, thanne is it thus; that thilke 
tyme that al this world was in sinne, 
thanne was al this world in thraldom 
and subieccioun. / But certes, sith 770 
the tyme of grace cam, god ordeyned 
that som folk sholde be more heigh 
in estaat and in degree, and som folk 
more lowe, and that everich sholde 
be served in his estaat and in his 
degree, / And therfore, in somme 
contrees ther they byen thralles, 
whan they han turned hem to the 
feith, they maken hir thralles free out 
of thraldom. And therfore, certes, 
the lord oweth to his man that the 
man oweth to his lord. / The Pope 
calleth him-self servant of the ser- 
vaunts of god; but for-as-muche as 
the estaat of holy chirche ne mighte 
nat han be, ne the 'commune profit 
mighte nat han be kept, ne pees and 
reste in erthe, but-if god hadde 
ordeyned that som men hadde hyer 
degree and som men lower : / therfore 
was sovereyntee ordeyned to kepe 
and mayntene and deffenden hir un- 
derlinges or hir subgets in resoun, as 
ferforth as it lyth in hir power; and 
nat to destroyen hem ne confounde. / 



775-795-1 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



299 



Wherfore I seye, that thilke lordes 
that been lyk wolves, that devouren 
the possessiouns or the catel of povre 
folk wrongfully, with-outen mercy or 

775 niesure, / they shul receyven, by the 
same mesure that they han mesured 
to povre folk, the mercy of lesu Crist, 
but-if it be amended. / Now comth 
deccite bitvvixe marchant and mar- 
chant. And thow shalt understonde, 
tliat marchandyse is in two maneres; 
that oon is bodily, and that other is 
goostly. That oon is honeste and 
leveful, and that other is deshoneste 
and unleveful. / Of thilke bodily 
marchandyse, that is leveful and 
honeste, is this; that, there-as god 
hath ordeyned that a regne or a" con- 
tree is suffisaunt to him-self, thanne is 
it honeste and leveful, that of habun- 
daunce of this contree, that men helpe 
another contree that is more nedy. / 
And therfore, ther mote been mar- 
chants to bringen fro that o contree 
to that other hire marchandyses. / 
That other marchandise, that men 
haunten with fraude and trecherie 
and deceite, with lesinges and false 

780 othes, is cursed and dampnable. / 
Espirituel marchandyse is proprely 
Symonye, that is, ententif desyr to 
byen thing espirituel, that is, thing 
that aperteneth to the seintuarie of 
god and to cure of the soule. / This 
desyr, if so be that a man do his dili- 
gence to parfournen it, al-be-it that 
his desyr ne take noon effect, yet is it 
to him a deedly sinne; and if he be 
ordred, he is irreguler. / Certes, 
Symonye is cleped of Symon Magus, 
that wolde han boght, for temporel 
catel, the yifte that god hadde yeven, 
by the holy goost, to seint Peter and 
to the apostles. / And therfore un- 
derstond, that bothe he that selleth 
and he that byeth thinges espirituels, 
been cleped Symonials; be it by 
catel, be it by procuringe, or by 
fleshly preyere of hise freendes, fleshly 
freendes, or espirituel freendes. / 
Fleshly, in two maneres; as by kinrede 
or othere freendes. Soothly, if they 
praye for him that is nat worthy and 



able, it is Symonye if he take the 
benefice; and if he be worthy and 
able, ther nis noon. / That other 785 
manere is, whan a man or womman 
preyen for folk to avauncen hem, only 
for wikked fleshly affeccioun that they 
have un-to the persone; and that is 
foul Symonye. / But certes, in ser- 
vice, for which men yeven thinges 
espirituels un-to hir servants, it moot 
been understonde that the service 
moot been honeste, and elles nat; and 
eek that it be with-outen bargayninge, 
and that the persone be able. / For, 
as seith Seint Damasie, ' alle the sinnes 
of the world, at regard of this sinne, 
arn as thing of noght'; for it is the 
gretteste sinne that may be, after 
the sinne of Lucifer and Antecrist. / 
For, by this sinne, god forleseth the 
chirche, and the soule that he boghte 
with his precious blood, by hem that 
yeven chirches to hem that been nat 
digne. / For they putten in theves, 
that stelen the soules of lesu Christ 
and destroyen his patrimoine. / By 790 
swiche undigne preestes and curates 
han lewed men the lasse reverence of 
the sacraments of holy chirche; and 
swiche yeveres of chirches putten out 
the children of Crist, and putten in-to 
the chirche the develes owene sone. / 
They sellen the soules that lambes 
sholde kepen to the wolf that stran- 
gleth hem. And therfore shul they 
nevere han part of the pasture of 
lambes, that is, the blisse of hevene. / 
Now comth hasardrye with hise apur- 
tenaunces, as tables and rafles; of 
which comth deceite, false othes, 
chydinges, and alle ravines, blasphem- 
inge and reneyinge of god, and hate 
of hise neighebores, wast of godes, 
misspendinge of tyme, and somtyme 
manslaughtre. / Certes, hasardours 
ne mowe nat been with-outen greet 
sinne whyles they haunte that craft. / 
Of avarice comen eek lesinges, thefte, 
fals witnesse, and false othes. And 
ye shul understonde that thise been 
grete sinnes, and expres agayn the 
comaundements of god, as I have 
seyd. / Fals witnesse is in word and 795 



300 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[796-81] 



eek in dede. In word, as for to bireve 
thy neighebores goode name by thy 
fals witnessing, or bireven him his 
catel or his heritage by thy fals wit- 
nessing; whan thou, for ire or for 
mede, or for envye,berest fals witnesse, 
or accusest him or excusest him by 
thy fals witnesse, or elles excusest 
thy-self falsly. / Ware yow, queste- 
mongeres and notaries ! Certes, for 
fals witnessing was Susanna in ful 
gret sorwe and peyne, and many 
another mo. / The sinne of thefte 
is eek expres agayns goddes heste, 
and that in two maneres, corporel and 
espirituel. / Corporel, as for to take 
thy neighebores catel agayn his wil, 
be it by force or by sleighte, be it by 
met or by raesure. / By steling eek 
of false enditements upon him, and in 
borvvinge of thy neighebores catel, 
in entente nevere to payen it agayn, 
800 and semblable thinges. / Espirituel 
thefte is Sacrilege, that is to seyn, 
hurtinge of holy thinges, or of thinges 
sacred to Crist, in two maneres; by 
reson of the holy place, as chirches 
or chirche hawes, / for which every 
vileyns sinne that men doon in swiche 
places may be cleped sacrilcge,or every 
violence in the semblable places. Also, 
they that withdrawen falsly the rightes 
that longen to holy chirche. / And 
pleynly and generally, sacrilege is to 
reven holy thing fro holy place, or 
unholy thing out of holy place, or holy 
thing out of unholy place. / 

Relevacio cont7'a peccatiim Avaricie. 

§ 68. Now shul ye understonde, 
that the relevinge of Avarice is mis- 
ericorde, and pitee largely taken. 
And men mighten axe, why that mis- 
ericorde and pitee is relevinge of 
Avarice?/ Certes, the avaricious 
man sheweth no pitee ne misericorde 
to the nedeful man; for he delyteth 
him in the kepinge of his tresor, and 
nat in the rescowinge ne relevinge 
of his evene-cristene. And therfore 
805 speke I first of misericorde. / Thanne 
is misericorde, as seith the philoso- 



phre, a vertu, by which the corage of 
man is stired by the misese of him 
that is misesed. / Up-on which 
misericorde folweth pitee, in par- 
fourninge of charitable werkes of 
misericorde. / And certes, thise 
thinges moeven a man to misericorde 
of lesu Crist, that he yaf him-self for 
oure gilt, and suffred deeth for mis- 
ericorde, and forgaf us oure originale 
sinnes; / and therby relessed us fro 
the peynes of helle, and amenused 
the peynes of purgatorie by penitence, 
and yeveth grace wel to do, and atte 
laste the blisse of hevene. / The 
speces of misericorde been, as for to 
lene and for to yeve and to foryeven 
and relesse, and for to han pitee in 
herte, and compassioun of the mes- 
chief of his evene-cristene, and eek to 
chastyse there as nede is. / Another! 
manere of remedie agayns Avarice is 
resonable largesse; but soothly, here 
bihoveth the consideracioun of the 
grace of lesu Crist, and of hise tem- 
porel goodes, and eek of the godes 
perdurables that Crist yaf to us; / 
and to han remembrance of the deeth 
that he shal receyve, he noot whanne, 
where, ne how; and eek that he shal 
forgon al that he hath, save only that 
he hath despended in gode werkes. / 
§ 69. But for-as-muche as som 
folk been unmesurable, men oghten 
eschue fool-largesse, that men clepen 
wast. / Certes, he that is fool-large 
ne yeveth nat his catel, but he leseth 
his catel. Soothly, what thing that 
he yeveth for veyne glorie, as to 
minstrals and to folk, for to beren his 
renoun in the world, he hath sinne 
ther-of and noon almesse. / Certes, 
he leseth foule his good, that ne 
seketh with the yifte of his good no- 
thing but sinne./ Heis lyk to an horsJ 
that seketh rather to drinken drovy 
or trouble water than for to drinken 
water of the clere welle. / And 
for-as-muchel as they yeven ther as 
they sholde nat yeven, to hem aper- 
teneth thilke malisoun that Crist shal 
yeven at the day of dome to hem 
that shullen been dampned. / 



818-836.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



301 



Sequitiir de Gula. 

§ 70. After Avarice comth Glot- 
onye, which is expres eek agayn the 
comandement of god. Glotonye is 
unmesurable appetyt to ete or to 
drinke, or elles to doon y-nogh to the 
unmesurable appetyt and desordeynee 
coveityse to eten or to drinke. / 
This sinne corrumped al this world, 
as is wel shewed in the sinne of 
Adam and of Eve. Loke eek, what 
seith seint Paul of Glotonye. / 
* Manye,' seith seint Paul, ' goon, of 
whiche I have ofte seyd to yow, and 
now I seye it wepinge, that they been 
the enemys of the croys of Crist; of 
whiche the ende is deeth, and of 
whiche hir wombe is hir god, and hir 
glorie in confusioun of hem that so 

820 saveren erthely thinges.' / He that 
is usaunt to this sinne of Glotonye, he 
ne may no sinne withstonde. He 
moot been in servage of alle vyces, 
for it is the develes hord ther he 
hydeth him and resteth. / This 
sinne hath manye speces. The firste 
is dronkenesse, that is the horrible 
sepulture of mannes resoun; and 
therfore, whan a man is dronken, he 
hath lost his resoun ; and this is deedly 
sinne. / But soothly, whan that a 
man is nat wont to strong drinke, 
and peraventure ne knoweth nat the 
strengthe of the drinke, or hath 
feblesse in his heed, or hath travailed, 
thurgh which he drinketh the more, 
al be he sodeynly caught with drinke, 
it is no deedly sinne, but venial. / 
The seconde spece of Glotonye is, 
that the spirit of a man wexeth al 
trouble ; for dronkenesse bireveth him 
the discrecioun of his wit. / The 
thridde spece of Glotonye is, whan a 
man devoureth his mete, and hath no 

825 rightful manere of etinge. / The 
fourthe is whan, thurgh the grete 
habundaunce of his mete, the humours 
in his body been destempred. / The 
fifthe is, foryetelnesse by to muchel 
drinkinge; for which somtyme a man 
foryeteth er the morwe what he dide 
at even or on the night biforn. / 



§ 71. In other manere been dis- 
tinct the speces of Glotonye, after 
seint Gregorie. The firste is, for to 
ete biforn tyme to ete. The seconde 
is, whan a man get him to delicat 
mete or drinke. / The thridde is, 
whan men taken to muche over mesure. 
The fourthe is curiositee, with greet 
entente to maken and apparaillen his 
mete. The fifthe is, for to eten to 
gredily. / Thise been the fyve fingres 
of the develes hand, by whiche he 
draweth folk to sinne. / 830 

Remedium contra peccatum Gule. 

§72. Agayns Glotonye is the reme- 
die Abstinence, as seith Galien; but 
that holde I nat meritorie, if he do it 
only for the hele of his body. Seint 
Augustin wole, that Abstinence be 
doon for verlu and with pacience. / 
Abstinence, he seith, is litel worth, 
but-if a man have good wil ther-to, 
and but it be enforced by pacience 
and by charitee, and that men doon 
it for godes sake, and in hope to have 
the blisse of hevene. / 

§ 73. The felawes of Abstinence 
been Attemperaunce, that holdeth 
the mene in alle thinges : eek Shame, 
that eschueth alle deshonestee : Suffi- 
sance, that seketh no riche metes ne 
drinkes, ne dooth no fors of to outra- 
geous apparailinge of mete. / Mesure 
also, that restreyneth by resoun the 
deslavee appetyt of etinge : Sobre- 
nesse also, that restreyneth the out- 
rage of drinke : / Sparinge also, 
that restreyneth the delicat ese to 
sitte longe at his mete and softely; 
wherfore som folk stonden of hir 
owene wil, to eten at the lasse leyser./ 835 

Sequitur de Luxiiria. 

§ 74. After Glotonye, thanne 
comth Lecherie; for thise two sinnes 
been so ny cosins, that ofte tyme 
they wol nat departe. / God woi.t, 
this sinne is ful displesaunt thing to 
god ; for he seyde himself, ' do no 
lecherie,' And therfore he putte 



1 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[837-858.5: 



grete peynes agayns this sinne in the 
olde lawe. / If woniman thral were 
taken in this sinne, she sholde be 
beten with staves to the deeth. And 
if she were a gentil womman, she 
sholde be slayn with stones. And if 
she were a bisshoppes doghter, she 
sholde been brent, by goddes com- 
andement. / Forther over, by the 
sinne of Lecherie, god dreynte al the 
world at the diluge. And after tliat, 
he brente fyve citees with thonder- 
leyt, and sank hem in-to helle. / 

§ 75. Now lat us speke thanne of 
thilke stinkinge sinne of Lecherie 
that men clepe Avoutrie of wedded 
folk, that is to seyn, if that oon of 

840 hem be wedded, or elles l)othe. / 
Seint L:)hn seith, that avoutiers shul- 
len been in helle in a stank l)renninge 
of fyr and of brimston; in fyr, for the 
lecherie; in brimston, tor the stink 
of hir ordure. / Certes, the brek- 
inge of this sacrement is an horrible 
thing; it was maked of god him-self 
in paradys, and confermed by lesu 
Crist, as witnesseth seint iNIathew in 
the gospel : ' A man shal lete fader 
and moder, and taken him to his wyf, 
and they shuUen be two in o flesh.' / 
This sacrement bitokneth the knit- 
tinge togidre of Crist and of holy 
chirche. / And nat only that god 
forbad avoutrie in dede, l)ut eek he 
comanded that thou sholdest nat 
coveite thy neighebores wyf. / In 
this heeste, seith seint Augu^tin, is 
forboden alle manere coveitise to doon 
lecherie. Lo what seith seint Mathew 
in the gospel : that ' who-so seeth a 
womman to coveitise of his lust, he 
hath doon lecherie with hir in his 

845 herte.' / Here may ye seen that nat 
only the dede of this sinne is forljoden, 
but eek the desyr to doon that sinne. / 
This cursed sinne anoyeth grevous- 
liche hem that it haunten. And first, 
to hir soule; for he oblygeth it to 
sinne and to peyne of deeth that is 
perdurable. / Un-to the l^ody anoy- 
eth it grevously also, for it dreyeth 
him, and wasteth, and shent him, and 
of his blood he maketh sacrifyce to 



the feend of helle ; it wasteth his 
catel and his substaunce. / And 
certes, if it be a foul thing, a man to 
waste his catel on wommen, yet is it 
a fouler thing whan that, for swich 
ordure, wommen dispenden up-on 
men hir catel and substaunce./ This 
sinne, as seith the prophete, bireveth 
man and womman hir gode fame, 
and al hir lionour; and it is ful pleas- 
aunt to the devel; for ther-by winneth 
he the moste partie of this world. / 850 
And right as a marchant delyteth him 
most in chaflare that he hath most 
avantage of, right so delyteth the 
feend in this ordure. / 

§ 76. Tills is that other hand of 
the devel, with fyve fingres, to cacche 
thepeple to hisvileinye. / Thelirste 
finger is the fool lookinge of the fool 
womman and of the fool man, that 
sleeth, right as the basilicok sleeth folk 
by the venimof hissightc; for the cov- 
eitise of eyen folweth the coveitise of 
the herte. / The seconde finger is 
the vileyns touchinge in wikkede 
manere; and ther-fore seith Salomon, 
that who-so toucheth and handleth a 
womman, he fareth lyk him that han- 
dleth the scorpioun that stingeth and 
sodeynly sleeth thurgh his envenim- 
inge; as who-so toucheth warm pich, 
it shent hise fingres. / The thridde, 
is foule wordes, that fareth lyk fyr, 
that right anon brenneth the herte. / 855 
The fourthe linger is the kissinge; 
and trewely he were a greet fool that 
wolde kisse the mouth of a brenninge 
ovene or of a fourneys, / And more 
fooles been they that kissen in 
vileinye; for that mouth is the 
mouth of helle : and namely, thise 
olde dotardes holours, yet wol they 
kisse, though they may nat do, and 
smatre hem. / Certes, they been 
lyk to houndes; for an hound, whan 
he comth by the roser or by othere 
[busshes], though he may nat pisse, 
yet wole he heve up his leg and make 
a contenaunce to pisse. / And for 
that many man weneth that he may 
nat sinne, for no likerousnesse that 
he doth with his wyf; certes, that 



859-881.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



303 



opinion is fals. God woot, a man may 
sleen him-self with his ovvene knyf, and 
make him-selven dronkenof his owene 
tonne. / Certes, be it wyf, be it child, 
or any worldly thing that he loveth 
bi^Drn god, it is his maumet, and he is 

860 an ydolastre. / Man sholde loven 
his wyf by discrecioun, paciently and 
atemprely; and thanne is she as 
though it were his suster. / The 
fifthe finger of the develes hand is 
the stinkinge dede of I-echerie. / 
Certes, the fyve fingres of Glotonie the 
feend put in the wombe of a man, 
and with hise fyve fyngres of Lecherie 
he gripeth him by the reynes, for to 
throwen him in-to the fourneys of 
helle; / ther-as theyshul han the fyr 
and the wormesthat evere shul lasten, 
and wepinge and wailinge, sharp 
hunger and thurst, and grimnesse of 
develes that shullen al to-trede hem, 
with-outen respit and with-outen 
ende. / Of Lecherie, as I seyde, 
sourden diverse speces; as fornica- 
cioun, that is bitwixe man and wom- 
man that been nat maried; and this 

S65 is deedly sinne and agayns nature./ 
Al that is enemy and destruccioun to 
nature is agayns nature./ Parfay, the 
resoun of a man telleth eek him wel 
that it is deedly sinne, for-as-muche 
as god forbad Lecherie. And seint 
Paul yeveth hem the regne, that nis 
dewe to no wight but to hem that 
doon deedly sinne. / Another sinne 
of Lecherie is to bireve a mayden of 
hir maydenhede; for he that so 
dooth, certes, he casteth a mayden 
out of the hyeste degree that is in 
this present lyf, / and bireveth hir 
thilke precious fruit that the book 
clepeth ' the hundred fruit.' I ne 
can seye it noon other weyes in Eng- 
lish, but in Latin it highte Centesimtis 
fructus. I Certes, he that so dooth 
is cause of manye damages and 
vileinyes, mo than any man can rek- 
ene; right as he som-tyme is cause of 
alle damages that bestes don in the 
feeld, that breketh the hegge or the 
closure; thurgh which he destroyeth 

870 that may nat been restored. / For 



certes, na-more may maydenhede be 
restored than an arm that is smiten 
fro the body may retourne agayn to 
wexe. / She may have mercy, this 
woot I wel, if she do penitence; but 
nevere shal it be that she nas cor- 
rupt. / And al-be-it so that I have 
spoken somwhat of Avoutrie, it is 
good to shewen mo perils that longen 
to Avoutrie, for to eschue that foule 
sinne. / Avoutrie in Latin is for to 
seyn, approchinge of other mannes 
bed, thurgh which tho that whylom 
weren o flessh abaundone hir bodyes 
to othere persones. / Of this sinne, 
as seith the wyse man, folwen manye 
harmes. First, brekinge of feith; and 
certes, in feith is the keye of Cristen- 
dom. / And whan that feith is 875 
broken and lorn, soothly Cristendom 
stant veyn and with-outen fruit. / 
This sinne is eek a thefte; for thefte 
generally is for to reve a wight his 
thing agayns his wille. / Certes, this 
is the fouleste thefte that may be, 
whan a womman steleth hir body 
from hir housbonde and yeveth it to 
hire holour to defoulen hir; and stel- 
eth hir soule fro Crist, and yeveth it 
to the devel. / This is a fouler 
thefte, than for to breke a chirche 
and stele the chalice; for thise Avout- 
iers breken the temple of god spirit- 
ually, and stelen the vessel of grace, 
that is, the body and the soule, for 
which Crist shal destroyen hem, as 
seith Seint Paul. / Soothly of this 
thefte douted gretly loseph, whan 
that his lordes wyf preyed him of 
vileinye, whan he seyde, ' lo, my lady, 
how my lord hath take to me under 
my warde al that he hath in this 
world; ne no-thing of hise thinges is 
out of my power, but only ye that 
been his wyf. / And how sholde I 880 
thanne do this wikkednesse, and 
sinne so horribly agayns god, and 
agayns my lord? God it forbede.' 
Alias ! al to litel is swich trouthe now 
y-founde ! / The* thridde harm is 
the filthe thurgh which they breken 
the comandement of god, and de- 
foulen the auctour of matrimoine, 



304 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[882-900. 



that is Crist. / For certes, in-so- 
muche as the sacrement of mariage 
is so noble and so digne, so muche is 
it gretter sinne for to breken it; for 
god made mariage in paradys, in the 
estaat of Innocence, to multiplye 
man-kinde to the service of god. / 
And therfore is the brekinge ther-of 
more grevous. Of which brekinge 
comen false heires ofte tyme, that 
wrongfully occupyen folkes heritages. 
And therfore wol Crist putte hem out 
of the regne of hevene, that is heri- 
tage to gode folk. / Of this brek- 
inge comth eek ofte tyme, that folk 
unwar wedden or sinnen with hir 
owene kinrede; and namely thilke 
harlottes that haunten bordels of 
thise fool wommen, that mowe be 
lykned to a commune gonge, where-as 
; men purgen hir ordure. / What 
seye we eek of putours that liven by 
the horrible sinne of putrie, and con- 
streyne wommen to yelden to hem a 
certeyn rente of hir bodily puterie, ye, 
somtyme of his owene wyf or his 
child; as doon this baudes? Certes, 
thise been cursede sinnes. / Under- 
stond eek, that avoutrie is set gladly 
in the ten comandements bitwixe 
thefte and manslaughtre; for it is 
the gretteste thefte that may be; 
for it is thefte of body and of 
soule. / And it is lyk to homi- 
cyde; for it kerveth a-two and 
breketh a-two hem that first were 
maked o flesh, and therfore, by the 
olde lavve of god, they sholde be 
slayn,/ But nathelees, by the lawe 
of lesu Crist, that is lawe of pitee, 
whan he seyde to the womman that 
was founden in avoutrie, and sholde 
han been slayn with stones, after the 
wil of the lewes, as was hir lawe : 
' Go,' quod lesu Crist, ' and have na- 
more wil to sinne ' ; or, ' wille na- 
more to do sinne,'/ Soothly, the 
vengeaunce of avoutrie is awarded 
to the peynes of helle, but-if so be 
D that it be destourbed by penitence. / 
Yet been ther mo speces of this 
cursed sinne; as whan that oon of 
hem is religious, or elles bothe; or of 



folk that been entred in-to ordre, as 
subdekne or dekne, or preest, or 
hospitallers. And evere the hyer 
that he is in ordre, the gretter is the 
sinne. / The thinges that gretly 
agreggen hir sinne is the brekinge 
of hir avow of chastitee, whan they 
receyved the ordre. / And forther- 
over, sooth is, that holy ordre is chief 
of al the tresorie of god, and his 
especial signe and mark of chastitee; 
to shewe that they been ioyned to 
chastitee, which that is most precious 
lyf that is, / And thise ordred folk 
been specially tytled to god, and of 
the special meynee of god; for which, 
whan they doon deedly sinne, they 
been the special traytours of god and 
of his peple; for they liven of the 
peple, to preye for the peple, and 
whyle they been suche traitours, hir 
preyers availen nat to the peple./ 
Preestes been aungeles, as by the dig- 
nitee of hir misterye; but for sothe, 
seint Paul seith, that ' Sathanas trans- 
formeth him in an aungel of light.'/ 895 
Soothly, the preest that haunteth 
deedly sinne, he may be lykned to 
the aungel of derknesse transformed 
in the aungel of light; he semeth 
aungel of light, but for sothe he is 
aungelof derknesse./ Swiche preestes 
been the sones of Helie, as sheweth 
in the book of Kinges, that they 
weren the sones of Belial, that is, the 
devel, / Belial is to seyn * with-outen 
luge'; and so faren they; hem 
thinketh they been free, and han no 
luge, na-more than hath a free bole 
that taketh which cow that him lyketh 
in the toun. / So faren they by 
wommen. For right as a free bole is 
y-nough for al a toun, right so is a 
wikked preest corrupcioun y-nough 
for al a parisshe, or for al acontree./ 
Thise preestes, as seith the book, ne 
conne nat the misterie of preesthode 
to the peple, ne god ne knowe they 
nat; they ne helde hem nat apayd, as 
seith the book, of soden flesh that was 
to hem offred, but they toke by force 
the flesh that is rawe. / Certes, so 900 
thise shrewes ne holden hem nat 



901-919.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



305 



apayed of rested flesh and sode flesh, 
with which the peple fedden hem in 
greet reverence, but they wole have 
raw flesh of folkes wyves and hir 
doght'-es./ And certes, thise wom- 
men that consenten to hir harlotrie 
doon greet wrong to Crist and to 
holy chirche and alle halwes, and to 
allesoules; for they bireven alle thise 
him that sholde worshipe Crist and 
holy chirche, and preye for cristene 
soules./ And therfore han swiche 
preestes, and hir lemmanes eek that 
consenten to hir lecherie, the mali- 
soun of al the court cristen, til they 
come to Amendement. / The thridde 
spece of avoutrie is som-tyme bitwixe 
a man and his wyf ; and that is whan 
they take no reward in hir assem- 
blinge, but only to hire fleshly delyt, as 
seith seint lerome; / and ne rekken 
of no-thing but that they been assem- 
bled ; by-cause that they been maried, 
al is good y-nough, as thinketh to 
905 hem. / But in swich folk hath the 
devel power, as seyde the aungel 
Raphael to Thobie; for in hir assem- 
blinge they putten lesu Crist out of 
hir herte, and yeven hem-self to alle 
ordure./ The fourthe spece is, the 
assemblee of hem that been of hire 
kinrede, or of hem that been of oon 

^af¥initee, or elles with hem with whiche 
hir fadres or hir kinrede han deled 
in the sinne of lecherie; this sinne 
maketh hem lyk to houndes, that 
taken no kepe to kinrede. / And 
certes, parentele is in two maneres, 
outher goostly or fleshly; goostly, as 
for to delen with hise godsibbes./ 
For right so as he that engendreth a 
child is his fleshly fader, right so is 
his godfader his fader espirituel. 

I For which a womman may in no 
lasse sinne assemblen with hir god- 
sib than with hir owene fleshly 
brother. / The fifthe spece is thilke 
abhominable sinne, of which that 
no man unnethe oghte speke ne 
wryte, nathelees it is openly reherced 
910 in holy writ. / This cursednesse doon 
men and wommen in diverse entente 
and in diverse manere; but though 



that holy writ speke of horrible sinne, 
certes, holy writ may not been de- 
fouled, na-more than the sonne that 
shyneth on the mixen./ Another 
sinne aperteneth to lecherie, that 
comth in slepinge; and this sinne 
cometh ofte to hem that been mayd- 
enes, and eek to hem that been 
corrupt; and this sinne men clepen 
pollucioun, that comth in foure 
maneres./ Somtyme, of languissinge 
of body; for the humours been to 
ranke and habundaunt in the body of 
man. Somtyme of infermetee; for 
the feblesse of the vertu retentif, as 
phisik maketh mencioun. Som-tyme, 
for surfeet of mete and drinke. / 
And somtyme of vileyns thoghtes, 
that been enclosed in mannes minde 
whan he goth to slepe; which may 
nat been with-oute sinne. For which 
men moste kepen hem wysely, or 
elles may men sinnen ful grevously. / 

Remedium contra peccatwn Ltixurie. 

§ 77. Now comth the remedie 
agayns Lecherie, and that is, gener- 
ally, Chastitee and Continence, that 
restreyneth alle the desordeynee 
moevinges that comen of fleshly tal- 
entes. / And evere the gretter merite 915 
shal he han, that most restreyneth the 
wikkede eschaufinges of the ordure 
of this sinne. And this is in two 
maneres, that is to seyn, chastitee in 
mariage, and chastitee of widwe- 
hode. / Now shaltow understonde, 
that matrimoine is leefful assemblinge 
of man and of womman, that receyven 
by vertu of the sacrement the bond, 
thurgh which they may nat be de- 
parted in al hir lyf, that is to seyn, 
whyl that they liven bothe. / This, 
as seith the book, is a ful greet sacre- 
ment. God maked it, as I have seyd, 
in paradys, and wolde him-self be 
born in mariage. / And for to hal- 
wen mariage, he was at a weddinge, 
where-as he turned water in-to wyn; 
which was the firste miracle that he 
wroghte in erthe biforn hise disci- 
ples. / Trewe effect of mariage 



So6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[920-939., 



clenseth fornicacioun and replenisseth 
holy chirche of good linage; for that 
is the ende of mariage ; and it chaung- 
eth deedly sinne in-to venial sinne 
bitwixe hem that been y-wedded, and 
maketh the hertes al oon of hem that 

920 been y-wedded, as wel as the bodies. / 
This is verray mariage, that was estab- 
lissed by god er that sinne bigan, 
whan naturel lawe was in his right 
point in paradys; an dit was ordyned 
that o man sholde have but o wom- 
man, and o womman but o man, as 
seith Seint Augustin, by manye re- 
souns. / 

§ 78. First, for mariage is figured 
bitwixe Crist and holy chirche. And 
that other is, for a man is heved of a 
womman; algate, by ordinaunce it 
sholde be so. / For if a womman 
had mo men than oon, thanne sholde 
she have mo hevedes than oon, and 
that were an horrible thing biforn 
god; and eek a womman ne mighte 
nat plese to many folk at ones. And 
also ther ne sholde nevere be pees 
ne teste amonges hem; for everich 
wolde axen his owene thing. / And 
forther-over, no man ne sholde knowe 
his owene engendrure, ne who sholde 
have his heritage; and the womman 
sholde been the lasse biloved, fro the 
time that she were conioynt to many 
men. / 

§ 79. Now comth, how that a man 
sholde here him with his wyf; and 
namely, in two thinges, that is to seyn 
in suffraunce and reverence, as shewed 

925 Crist whan he made first womman. / 
For he ne made hir nat of the heved of 
Adam, for she sholde nat clayme to 
greet lordshipe. / For ther-as the 
womman hath the maistrie, she mak- 
eth to muche desray; ther neden 
none ensamples of this. The expe- 
rience of day by day oghte suffyse. / 
Also certes, god ne made nat wom- 
man of the foot of Adam, for she ne 
sholde nat been holden to lowe; for 
she can nat pacintly suffre : but god 
made womman of the rib of Adam, 
for womman sholde be felawe un-to 
man. / Man sholde here him to his 



wyf in feith, in trouthe, and in love, 
as seith seint Paul : that ' a man 
sholde loven his wyf as Crist loved 
holy chirche, that loved it so wel that 
he deyde for it.' So sholde a man for 
his wyf, if it were nede. / 

§ 80. Now how that a womman 
sholde be subget to hir housbonde, 
that telleth seint Peter. First, in obe- 
dience. / And eek, as seith the de- 930 
cree, a womman that is a wyf, as 
longe as she is a wyf, she hath noon 
auctoritee to swere ne here witnesse 
with-oute leve of hir housbonde, that 
is hir lord ; algate, he sholde be so by 
resoun. / She sholde eek serven him 
in alle honestee, and been attempree 
of hir array. I wot wel that they 
sholde setten hir entente to plesen hir 
housbondes, but nat by hir queyntise 
of array. / Seint lerome seith, that 
wyves that been apparailled in silk 
and in precious purpre ne mowe nat 
clothen hem in lesu Crist. What 
seith seint lohn eek in this matere? / 
Seint Gregorie eek seith, that no wight 
seketh precious array but only for 
veyne glorie, to been honoured the 
more biforn the peple. / It is a 
greet folye, a womman to have a fair 
array outward and in hir-self be foul 
inward. / A wyf sholde eek be mes- 935 
urable in lokinge and in beringe and 
in laughinge, and discreet in alle hir 
wordes and hir dedes. / And aboven 
alle worldly thing she sholde loven hir 
housbonde with al hir herte, and to 
him be trewe of hir body; / so sholde 
an housbonde eek be to his wyf. For 
sith that al the body is the housbondes, 
so sholde hir herte been, or elles ther 
is bitwixe hem two, as in that, no par- 
fit mariage. / Thanne shal men un- 
derstonde that for three thinges a man 
and his wyf fleshly mowen assemble. 
The firste is in entente of engendrure 
of children to the service of god, for 
certes that is the cause fynal of matri- 
moine. / Another cause is, to yelden 
everich of hem to other the dette of 
hir bodies, for neither of hem hath 
power over his owene body. The 
thridde is, for to eschewe lecherye 



940-960.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



307 



and vileinye. The ferthe is for sothe 
940 deedly sinne. / As to the firste, it is 
meritorie; the seconde also; for, as 
seith the decree, that she hath merite 
of chastitee that yeldeth to hir hous- 
bonde the dette of hir body, ye, though 
it be agayn hir lykinge and the lust of 
hir herte. / The thridde manere is 
venial sinne, and trevvely scarsly may 
ther any of thise be with-oute venial 
sinne, for the corrupcion and for the 
delyt. / The fourthe manere is for to 
understonde, if they assemble only for 
amorous love and for noon of the for- 
seyde causes, but for to accomplice 
thilke brenninge delyt, they rekke 
nevere how ofte, sothly it is deedly 
sinne; and yet, with sorwe, somme 
folk wol peynen hem more to doon 
than to hir appetyt suffyseth. / 

§ 81. The seconde manere of chas- 
titee is for to been a clene widewe, and 
eschue the embracinges of man, and 
desyren the embracinge of lesu Crist./ 
Thise been tho that han been wyves 
and han forgoon hir housbondes, 
and eek wommen that han doon le- 
cherie and been releeved by Peni- 
945 tence. / And certes, if that a wyf 
coude kepen hir al chaast by licence 
of hir housbonde, so that she yeve 
nevere noon occasion that he agilte, 
it were to hire a greet merite. / 
Thise manere wommen that observen 
chastitee moste be clene in herte as 
well as in body and in thoght, and 
mesurable in clothinge and in conte- 
naunce; and been abstinent in etinge 
and drinkinge, in spekinge, and in 
dede. They been the vessel or the 
boyste of the bHssed Magdelene, that 
fulfilleth holy chirche of good odour./ 
The thridde manere of chastitee is vir- 
ginitee, and it bihoveth that she be 
holy in herte and clene of body; 
thanne is she spouse to lesu Crist, 
and she is the lyf of angeles. / She 
is the preisinge of this world, and she 
is as thise martirs in egalitee; she 
hath in hir that tonge may nat telle 
ne herte thinke. / Virginitee baar 
oure lord lesu Crist, and virgine was 
950 him-selve. / 



§ 82. Another remedie agayns 
Lecherie is, specially to withdrawen 
swiche thinges as yeve occasion to 
thilke vileinye; as ese, etinge and 
drinkinge; for certes, v,'han the pot 
boyleth strongly, the beste remedie is 
to withdrawe the fyr. / Slepinge 
longe in greet quiete is eek a greet 
norice to Lecherie./ 

§ S;^. Another remedie agayns 
Lecherie is, that a man or a wom- 
man eschue the companye of hem by 
whiche he douteth to be tempted; 
for al-be-it so that the dede is with- 
stonden, yet is ther greet temp- 
tacioun. / Soothly a whyt wal, 
al-though it ne brenne noght fully 
by stikinge of a candele, yet is the 
wal blak of the leyt. / Ful ofte tyme 
I rede, that no man truste in his 
owene perfeccioun, but he be stronger 
than Sampson, and holier than David, 
and wyser than Salomon. / 955 

§ 84. Now after that I have de- 
clared yow, as I can, the sevene 
deedly sinnes, and somme of hir 
braunches and hir remedies, soothly, 
if I coude, I wolde telle yow the ten 
comandements. / But so heigh a 
doctrine I lete to divines. Nathelees, 
I hope to god they been touched in 
this tretice, everich of hem alle. / 

De Confessio7ie. 

§ 85. Now for-as-muche as the 
second partie of Penitence slant in 
Confessioun of mouth, as I bigan in 
the firste chapitre, I seye, seint Au- 
gustin seith : / sinne is every word 
and every dede, and al that men cov- 
eiten agayn the lawe of lesu Crist; 
and this is for to sinne in herte, in 
mouth, and in dede, by thy fyve wittes, 
that been sighte, heringe, smellinge, 
tastinge or savouringe, and felinge. / 
Now is it good to understonde that 
that agreggeth muchel every sinne. / 960 
Thou shalt considere what thou art 
that doost the sinne, whether thou be 
male or femele, yong or old, gentil 
or thral, free or servant, hool or syk, 
wedded or sengle, ordred or unordred, 



3o8 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[961-982. 



wys or fool, clerk or seculer; / if she 
be of thy kinrede, bodily or goostly, 
or noon; if any of thy kinrede have 
sinned with hir or noon, and manye 
mo thinges. / 

§ 86. Another circumstaunce is 
this; whether it be doon in fornica- 
cioun, or in avoutrie, or noon ; incest, 
ornoon; mayden, or noon; in nian- 
ere of homicyde, or noon; horrible 
grete sinnes, or smale; and how 
longe thou hast continued in sinne. / 
The thridde circumstaunce is the 
place ther thou hast do sinne; 
whether in other mennes hous or in 
thyn owene; in feeld or in chirche, 
or in chirche-hawe; in chirche dedi- 
cat, or noon. / For if the chirche be 
halwed, and man or womman spille 
his kinde inwith that place by wey of 
sinne, or by wikked temptacion, the 
chirche is entredited til it be recon- 

965 ciled by the bishop; / and the preest 
that dide swich a vileinye, to terme 
of al his lyf, he sholde na-more singe 
masse; and if he dide, he sholde 
doon deedly sinne at every tyme that 
he so songe masse. / The fourthe 
circumstaunce is, by whiche media- 
tours or by whiche messagers, as for 
entycement, or for consentement to 
here companye with felaweshipe ; for 
many a wrecche, for to here com- 
panye, wil go to the devel of helle. / 
Wher-fore they that eggen or con- 
senten to the sinne been parteners of 
the sinne, and of the dampnacioun of 
the sinner. / The fifthe circum- 
staunce is, how manye tymes that he 
hath sinned, if it be in his minde, and 
how ofte that he hath falle. / For 
he that ofte falleth in sinne, he de- 
spiseth the mercy of god, and en- 
creesseth his sinne, and is unkinde to 
Crist; and he wexeth the more feble 
to withstonde sinne, and sinneth the 

970 more lightly, / and the latter aryseth, 
and is the more eschew for to shryven 
him, namely, to him that is his con- 
fessour. / For which that folk, whan 
they falle agayn in hir olde folies, 
outher they forleten hir olde confes- 
sours al outrely, or elles they departen 



hir shrift in diverse places; but 
soothly, swich departed shrift deserv- 
eth no mercy of god of hise sinnes. / 
The sixte circumstaunce is, why that 
a man sinneth, as by whiche tempta- 
cioun; and if him-self procure thilke 
temptacioun, or by the excytinge of 
other folk; or if he sinne with a 
womman by force, or by hir owene 
assent; / or if the womman, maugree 
hir heed, hath been afforced, or noon; 
this shal she telle; for coveitise, or 
for poverte, and if it was hir procur- 
inge, or noon; and swiche manere 
barneys. / The seventhe circum- 
staunce is, in what manere he hath 
doon his sinne, or how that she hath 
suffred that folk han doon to hir. / 975 
And the same shal the man telle 
pleynly, with alle circumstaunces; 
and whether he hath sinned with 
comune bordel-wommen, or noon; / 
or doon his sinne in holy tymes, or 
noon; in fasting-tymes, or noon; or 
biforn his shrifte, or after his latter 
shrifte; / and hath, pcr-aventure, 
broken ther-fore his penance en- 
ioyned; by whos help and whos con- 
seil; by sorcerie or craft; al moste 
be told. / Alle thise thinges, after 
that they been grete or smale, en- 
greggen the conscience of man. And 
eek the preest that is thy luge, may 
the bettre been avysed of his luge- 
ment in yevinge of thy penaunce, and 
that is after thy contricioun. / For 
understond wel, that after tyme that 
a man hath defouled his baptesme by 
sinne, if he wole come to salvacioun, 
ther is noon other wey but by peni- 
tence and shrifte and satisfaccioun ; / 980 
and namely by the two, if ther be a 
confessour to which he may shryven 
him; and the thridde, if he have lyf m 
to parfournen it. / I 

§ 87. Thanne shal man looke and 1 
considere, that if he wole maken a ^ 
trewe and a profitable confessioun, 
ther moste be foure condiciouns. / 
First, it moot been in sorweful bitter- 
nesse of herte, as seyde the king 
Ezekias to god : ' I wol remembre me 
alle the yeres of my lyf in bitternesse 



?3-ioo3.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



309 



of myn herte.' / This condicioun of 
bitternesse hath fvye signes. The 
firste is, that confessioun moste be 
shamefast, nat for to covere ne hyden 
his sinne, for he hath agilt his god 
and defouled his soule. / And her- 
of seith seint Augustin : ' the herte 
travailleth for shame of his sinne'; 
and for he hath greet shamefastnesse, 
he is digne to have greet mercy of 

985 god. / Svvich was the confession of 
the publican, that vvolde nat heven 
up hise eyen to hevene, for he hadde 
offended god of hevene; for which 
shamefastnesse he hadde anon the 
mercy of god. / And ther-of seith 
seint Augustin, that swich shamefast 
foUv been next foryevenesse and re- 
missioun. / Another signe is humil- 
itee in confessioun; of which seith 
seint Peter, ' Humbleth yow under the 
might of god.' The bond of god is 
mighty in confession, for ther-by god 
foryeveth thee thy sinnes; for he al- 
lone hath the power. / And this hu- 
militee shal been in herte, and in signe 
outward; for right as he hath humili- 
tee to god in his herte, right so sholde 
he humble his body outward to the 
preest that sit in goddes place. / 
For which in no manere, sith that 
Crist is sovereyn and the preest 
mene and mediatour bitvvixe Crist 
and the sinnere, and the sinnere is 

990 the laste by wey of resoun, / thanne 
sholde nat the sinnere sitte as heighe 
as his confessour, but knele biforn 
him or at his feet, but-if maladie 
destourbe it. For he shal nat taken 
kepe who sit there, but in whos 
place that he sitteth. / A man 
that hath trespased to a lord, and 
comth for to axe mercy and maken 
his accord, and set him doun anon 
by the lord, men wolde holden him 
outrageous, and nat worthy so sone 
for to have remissioun ne mercy. / 
The thridde signe is, how that thy 
shrift sholde be ful of teres, if man 
may; and if man may nat wepe 
with hise bodily eyen, lat him wepe 
in herte. / Swich was the confes- 
sion of seint Peter; for after that he 



I 
I 



hadde forsake lesu Crist, he wente 
out and weep ful bitterly. / The 
fourthe signe is, that he ne lette nat 
for shame to shewen his confes- 
sioun. / Swich was the confessioun 995 
of the Magdelene, that ne spared, 
for no shame of hem that weren 
atte feste, for to go to oure lord 
lesu Crist and biknowe to him hir 
sinnes. / The fifthe signe is, that 
a man or a womman be obeisant to 
receyven the penaunce that him is 
enioyned for hise sinnes; for certes 
lesu Crist, for the giltes of a man, 
was obedient to the deeth. / 

§ 88. The seconde condicion of 
verray confession is, that it be 
hastily doon; for certes, if a man 
hadde a deedly wouncfe, evere the 
lenger that he taried to warisshe 
him-self, the more wolde it corrupte 
and haste him to his deeth; and 
eek the wounde wolde be the wors 
for to hele. / And right so fareth 
sinne, that longe tyme is in a man 
unshewed. / Certes, a man oghte 
hastily shewen hise sinnes for manye 
causes; as for drede of deeth, that 
cometh ofte sodenly, and is in no 
certeyn what tyme it shal be, ne in 
what place; and eek the drecchinge 
of o synne draweth in another; / 1000 
and eek the lenger that he tarieth, 
the ferther he is fro Crist. And if 
he abyde to his laste day, scarsly 
may he shryven him or remembre 
him of hise sinnes, or repenten him, 
for the grevous maladie of his 
deeth. / And for-as-muche as he 
ne hath nat in his lyf herkned lesu 
Crist, whanne he hath spoken, he 
shal crye to lesu Crist at his laste 
day, and scarsly wol he herkne 
him. / And understond that this 
condicioun moste han foure thinges. 
Thy shrift moste be purveyed bifore 
andavysed; for wikked haste doth 
no profit; and that a man conne 
shryve him of hise sinnes, be it of 
pryde, or of envye, and so forth of 
the speces and circumstances; / and 
that he have comprehended in his 
minde the nombre and the greetnesse 



3IO 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



II 



[1004- 1 022,;. 



of hise sinnes, and how longe that 
he hath leyn in sinne; /and eek 
that he be contrit of hise sinnes, 
and in stedefast purpos, by the 
grace of god, nevere eft to falle in 
sinne; and eek that he drede and 
countrevvaite him-self, that he flee 
the occasiouns of sinne to whiche 

1005 he is enclyned. / Also thou shalt 
shryve thee of alle thy sinnes to o 
man, and nat a parcel to o man and a 
parcel to another; that is to under- 
stonde, in entente to departe thy con- 
fessioun as for shame or drede; for 
it nis but stranglinge of thy soule. / 
For certes, lesu Crist is entierly al 
good; in him nis noon inperfec- 
cioun; and therfore outher he for- 
yeveth al partitly or never a deel. / 
I seye nat that if thou be assigned 
to the penitauncer for certein sinne, 
that thou art bounde to shevven him 
al the remenaunt of thy sinnes, of 
whiche thou hast be shriven to thy 
curat, but-if it lyke to thee of thyn 
humilitee; this is no departinge of 
shrifte. / Ne I seye nat, ther-as I 
speke of divisioun of confessioun, 
that if thou have lycence for to 
shryve thee to a discreet and an 
honeste preest, where thee lyketh, 
and by lycence of thy curat, that 
thou ne mayst wel shryve tliee to 
him of alle thy sinnes. / But lat no 
blotte be bihinde; lat no sinne been 
untold, as fer as thou hast remem- 

loio braunce. / And whan thou shalt 
be shriven to thy curat, telle him 
eek alle the sinnes that thou hast 
doon sin thou were last y-sh riven; 
this is no wikked entente of divi- 
sioun of shrifte. / 

§ 89. Also the verray shrifte axeth 
certeine condiciouns. First, that 
thou shryve thee by thy free wil, 
noght constreyned, ne for shame of 
folk, ne for maladie, ne swiche 
thinges; for it is resoun that he 
that trespasseth by his free wil, that 
by his free wil he confesse his tres- 
pas;/and that noon other man 
telle his sinne but he him-self, ne he 
shal nat nayte ne denye his sinne, 



ne wratthe him agayn the preest for 
his amonestinge to leve sinne. / 
The seconde condicioun is, that thy 
shrift be laweful; that is to seyn, 
that thou that shryvest thee, and 
eek the preest that hereth thy con- 
fessioun, been verraily in the feith 
of holy chirche; / and that a man 
ne be nat despeired of the mercy 
of lesu Crist, as Caym or ludas. / 1015 
And eek a man moot accusen him- 
self of his owene trespas, and nat 
another; but he shal blame and 
wyten him-self and his owene 
malice of his sinne, and noon 
other; / but nathelees, if that 
another man be occasioun or en- 
tycer of his sinne, or the estaat 
of a persone be swich thurgh which 
his sinne is agregged, or elles that 
he may nat pleynly shryven him 
but he telle the persone with which 
he hath sinned; thanne may he 
telle; / so that his entente ne be nat 
to bakbyte the persone, but only to 
declaren his confessioun. / 

§ 90. Thou ne shalt nat eek make 
no Icsinges in thy confessioun ; for 
humilitee, per-aventure, to seyn that 
thou hast doon sinnes of whiche that 
thou were nevere gilty. / For Seint 
Augustin seith : if thou, by cause of 
thyn humilitee, makest Icsinges on 
thy-self, though thou ne were nat 
in sinne biforn, yet artow thanne in 
sinne thurgh thy lesinges. / Thou 1020 
most eek shewe thy sinne by thyn 
owene propre mouth, but thou be 
wexe doumb, and nat by no lettre; 
for thou that hast doon the sinne, 
thou shalt have the shame ther- 
fore. / Thou shalt nat eek peynte 
thy confessioun by faire sui:)tile 
wordes, to covere the more thy 
sinne; for thanne bigylestow thy- 
self and nat the preest; thou most 
tellen it pleynly, be it nevere so 
foul ne so horrible./ Thou shalt 
eek shryve thee to a preest that is 
discreet to conseille thee, and eek 
thou shalt nat shryve thee for veyne 
glorie, ne for ypocrisye, ne for no 
cause, but only for the doute of 



I023-I042.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



311 



lesu Crist and the hele of thy soule. / 
Thou shalt nat eek renne to the 
preest sodeynly, to tellen him Hghtly 
thy sinne, as who-so telleth a lape 
or a tale, but avysely and with greet 
devocioun. / And generally, shryve 
thee ofte. If thou ofte falle, ofte 
1025 thou aryse by confessioun. / And 
thogh thou shryve thee ofter than 
ones of sinne, of which thou hast 
be shriven, it is the more merite. 
And, as seith seint Augustin, thou 
shalt have the more lightly relesing 
and grace of god, bothe of sinne 
and of peyne. / And certes, ones 
a yere atte leeste wey it is laweful 
for to been housled; for certes ones 
a yere alle thinges renovellen, / 

Explicit seciinda pars Peniteiicie ,' 
et seqtiitur tercia pars eiiisdem, de 
Satisfaccione. 

§ 91. Now have I told you of 
verray Confessioun, that is the sec- 
onde partie of Penitence. / 

The thridde partie of Penitence 
is Satisfaccioun; and that stant 
most generally in almesse and in 
bodily peyne. / Now been ther 
three manere of almesses; contri- 
cion of herte, where a man offreth 
himself to god; another is, to han 
pitee of defaute of hise neighebores; 
and the thridde is, in yevinge of 
good conseil goostly and bodily, 
where men han nede, and namely 
1030 in sustenaunce of mannes fode. / 
And tak keep, that a man hath 
need of thise thinges generally; he 
hath need of fode, he hath nede of 
clothing, and herberwe, he hath 
nede of charitable conseil, and 
visitinge in prisone and in maladie, 
and sepulture of his dede body. / 
And if thou mayst nat visite the 
nedeful with thy persone, visite him 
by thy message and by thy yiftes. / 
Thise been generally almesses or 
werkes of charitee of hem that han 
temporel richesses or discrecioun in 
conseilinge. Of thise werkes shal- 
tow heren at the day of dome. / 



§ 92. Thise almesses shaltow 
doon of thyne owene propre thinges, 
and hastily, and prively if thou 
mayst; / but nathelees, if thou 
mayst nat doon it prively, thou shalt 
nat forbere to doon almesse though 
men seen it; so that it be nat 
doon fur thank of the world 
but only for thank of lesu 
Crist. / For as witnesseth Seint 1035 
Mathew, capitiilo quinto, ' A citee 
may nat been hid that is set on a 
montoyne; ne men lighte nat a 
lanterne and put it under a busshel; 
but men sette it on a candle-stikke, 
to yeve light to the men in the 
hous. / Right so shal youre light 
hghten bifore men, that they may 
seen youre gode werkes, and glorifie 
youre fader that is in hevene.' / 

§ 93. Now as to speken of bodily 
peyne, it stant in preyeres, in wak- 
inges, in fastinges, in vertuouse 
techinges of orisouns. / And ye 
shul understonde, that orisouns or 
preyeres is for to seyn a pitous wil 
of herte, that redresseth it in god 
and expresseth it by word outward, 
to remoeven harmes and to han 
thinges espirituel and durable, and 
somtyme temporel thinges; of 
whiche orisouns, certes, in the 
orisoun of the Pater-iioster, hath 
lesu Crist enclosed most thinges. / 
Certes, it is privileged of three 
thinges in his dignitee, for which it 
is more digne than any other 
preyere; for that lesu Crist him- 
self maked it; / and it is short, for 1040 
it sholde be coud the more lightly, 
and for to withholden it the more 
esily in herte, and helpen him-self 
the ofter with the orisoun; / and 
for a man sholde be the lasse wery 
to seyen it, and for a man may nat 
excusen him to lerne it, it is so 
short and so esy; and for it com- 
prehendeth in it-self alle gode 
preyeres. / The exposicioun of 
this holy preyere, that is so excel- 
lent and digne, I bitake to thise 
maistrcs of theologie; save thus 
muchel wol I seyn : that, whan thou 



312 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1043-1062. 



prayest that god sholde foryeve thee 
thy giltes as thou foryevest hem 
that agilten to thee, be ful wel war 
that thou be nat out of charitee./ 
This holy orisoun amenuseth eek 
venial sinne; and therfore it aper- 
teneth specially to penitence./ 

§ 94. This preyere moste be 
trewely seyd and in verray feith, and 
that liien preye to god ordinatly and 
discreetly and devoutly ; and alwey a 
man shal putten his vvil to be subget 
1045 to the wille of god. / This orisoun 
moste eek been seyd with greet hum- 
blesse and ful pure ; honestly, and nat 
to the anoyaunceof any manor wom- 
man. It moste eek been continued 
with the werkes of charitee. / It 
avayleth eek agayn the vyces of the 
soule; for, as seith seint lerome, 
' By fastinge been saved the vyces 
of the flesh, and by preyere the 
vyces of the soule.'/ 

§ 95. After this, thou shalt un- 
derstonde, that bodily peyne stant 
in wakinge; for lesu Crist seith, 
'waketh, and preyeth that ye ne 
entre in wikked temptacioun.' / 
Ye shul understanden also, that 
fastinge stant in three thinges; in 
forberinge of bodily mete and 
drinke, and in forberinge of worldly 
lolitee, and in forberinge of deedly 
sinne; this is to seyn, that a man 
shal kepen him fro deedly sinne 
with al his might. / 

§ 96. And thou shalt under- 
standen eek, that god ordeyned 
fastinge; and to fastinge apper- 
1050 tenen foure thinges. / Largenesse 
to povre folk, gladnesse of herte es- 
pirituel, nat to been angry ne 
anoyed, ne grucche for he fasteth ; 
and also resonable houre for to ete 
by mesure; that is for to seyn, a 
man shal nat ete in untyme, ne sitte 
the lenger at his table to ete for he 
fasteth. / 

§ 97, Thanne shaltow under- 
stonde, that bodily peyne stant in 
disciplyne or techinge, by word or 
by wry tinge, or in ensample. Also in 
wcruige of heyres or of stamin, or 



of haubergeons on hir naked flesh, 
for Cristes sake, and swiche manere 
penances. / But war thee wel that 
swiche manere penances on thy flesh 
ne make nat thyn herte bitter or 
angry or anoyed of thy-self; for 
bettre is to caste awey thyn heyre, 
than for to caste away the sikernesse 
of lesu Crist. / And therfore seith 
seint Paul : * Clothe yow, as they 
that been chosen of god, in herte 
of misericorde, debonairetee, suf- 
fraunce, and swich manere of cloth- 
inge' ; of whiche lesu Crist is more 
apayed than of heyres, or hauber- 
geons, or hauberkes. / 

§ 98. Thanne is disciplyne eek in 
knokkinge of thy brest, in scourg- 
inge with yerdes, in knelinges, in 
tribulacions; / insuffringe paciently 1055 
wronges that been doon to thee, 
and eek in pacient suffraunce of 
maladies, or lesinge of worldly catel, 
or of wyf, or of child, or othere 
freendes. / 

§ 99. Thanne shaltow under- 
stonde, whiche thinges destourben 
penaunce ; and this is in foure man- 
eres, that is, drede, shame, hope, 
and wanhope, that is, desperacion. / 
And for to speke first of drede; for 
which he weneth that he may suffre 
no penaunce; / ther-agayns is rem- 
edie for to thinke, that bodily pen- 
aunce is but short and litel at regard 
of the peyne of helle, that is so 
cruel and so long, that it lasteth 
with-outen ende. / 

§ 100. Now again the shame that 
a man hath to shryven him, and 
namely, thise ypocrites that wolden 
been holden so parfite that they han 
no nede to shryven hem; / agayns 1060 
that shame, sholde a man thinke 
that, by wey of resoun, that he that 
hath nat been ashamed to doon 
foule thinges, certes him oghte nat 
been ashamed to do faire thinges, 
and that is confessiouns. / A man 
sholde eek thinke, that god seeth 
and woot alle hise thoghtes and alle 
hise werkes; to him may no thing 
been hid ne covered. / Men 



1063-108 1.] 



I. THE PERSONES TALE. 



313 



sholden eek remembren hem of the 
shame that is to come at the day of 
dome, to hem that been nat peni- 
tent and shriven in this present 
lyf. / For alle the creatures in 
erthe and in helle shuUen seen 
apertly al that they hyden in this 
world. / 

§ loi. Now for to speken of the 
hope of hem that been nechgent 
and slowe to shryven hem, that stant 

1065 in two maneres. / That oon is, 
that he hopeth for to live longe and 
for to purchacen muche richesse for 
his delyt, and thanne he wol shryven 
him; and, as he seith, him semeth 
thanne tymely y-nough to come to 
shrifte. / Another is, surquidrie 
that he hath in Cristes mercy. / 
Agayns the firste vyce, he shal 
thinke, that oure lyf is in no siker- 
nesse; and eek that alle the rich- 
esses in this world ben in aventure, 
and passen as a shadwe on the 
wal. / And, as seith seint Gregorie, 
that it aperteneth to the grete right- 
wisnesse of god, that nevere shal 
the peyne stinte of hem that nevere 
wolde withdrawen hem fro sinne, 
hir thankes, but ay continue in 
sinne; for thilke perpetuel wil to 
do sinne shul they han perpetuel 
peyne. / 

§ 102. Wanhope is in two man- 
eres: the firste wanhope is in the 
mercy of Crist; that other is that 
they thinken, that they ne mighte 

J070 113-t longe persevere in goodnesse. / 
The firste wanhope comth of that 
he demeth that he hath sinned so 
greetly and so ofte, and so longe 
leyn in sinne, that he shal nat be 
saved. / Certes, agayns that 
cursed wanhope sholde he thinke, 
that the passion of lesu Crist is 
more strong for to unbinde than 
sinne is strong for to binde. / 
Agayns the seconde wanhope, he 
shal thinke, that as ofte as he falleth 
he may aryse agayn by penitence. 
And thogh he never so longe have 
leyn in sinne, the mercy of Crist is 
alwey redy to receiven him to 



mercy. / Agayns the wanhope, 
that he demeth that he sholde nat 
longe persevere in goodnesse, lie 
shal thinke, that the fel:»lesse of the 
devel may no- thing doon but-if men 
wol suffren him; / and eek he shal 
han strengthe of the help of god, 
and of al holy chirche, and of the 
proteccioun of aungels, if him list./ 1075 

§ 103. Thanne shal men under- 
stonde what is the fruit of penaunce ; 
and, after the word of lesu Crist, it 
is the endelees blisse of hevene, / 
ther loye hath no contrarioustee of 
wo ne grevaunce, ther alle harmes 
been passed of this present lyf; 
ther-as is the sikernesse fro the 
peyne of helle; ther-as is the blis- 
ful companye that reioysen hem 
everemo, everich of otheres loye;/ 
ther-as the body of man, that why- 
lom was foul and derk, is more 
cleer than the sonne; ther-as the 
body, that whyl6m was syk, freele, 
and feble, and mortal, is inmortal, 
and so strong and so hool that ther 
may no-thing apeyren it; / ther-as 
ne is neither hunger, thurst, ne cold, 
but every soule replenissed with 
the sighte of the parfit knowinge of 
god. / This blisful regne may 
men purchace by poverte espirituel, 
and the glorie by lowenesse; the 
plentee of loye by hunger and 
thurst, and the reste by travaille; 
and the lyf by deeth and mortifica- 
cion of sinne. / 1080 

Here taketh the makere of this book 
his leve. 

§ 104. Now preye I to hem alle 
that herkne this litel tretis or rede, 
that if ther be any thing in it that 
lyketh hem, that ther-of they 
thanken oure lord lesu Crist, of 
whom procedeth al wit and al 
goodnesse. / And if ther be any 
thing that displese hem, I preye 
hem also that they arrette it to the 
defaute of myn unconninge, and 
nat to my wil, that wolde ful fayn 
have seyd betlre if I hadde had 



3H 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[1082-1092. 



-16.. 

--1 



conninge. / For oure l)oke seith, 
♦ al that is writen is writcn for oure 
doctrine'; arxl tliat is rnyii en- 
tente, / Whcrfore I l)iseke yow 
melcely for tlie mercy of god, tliat 
ye preye for me, that Crist have 
mercy on me and foryeve me my 
giltes: / — and. namely, of my 
translacions and endytinges of 
worldly vanitees, the whiche I re- 
1085 voke in my retracciouns: / as is 
the l)ook of Troilus; The book also 
of Fame; The book of the nyne- 
tene Ladies; The book of the 
Duchesse; The book of seint Val- 
entynes day of the Parlement of 
liriddes; The tales of Caunterbury, 
thilke that sounen in-to sinne; / 
The book of the I>eoun; and many 
an(;ther book, if they were in my 
rememljrance; and many a song 
and many a lecherous lay; that 
Crist for his grete mercy foryeve 

//ere is ended the hook of the Tales 
Chaucer ^ ofwhos soule lesu 



me the sinne. / But of the trans- 
lacion of lioece de Cons<daci<me, 
and othere bokes of Legendes of 
seintes, and omelies, and moralitee, 
and devocioun, / that thanke I 
oure lord Icsu Crist and his blisful 
moder, and alle the seintes of hev- 
ene; / bisekinge hem that they 
from hennes-f(jrth, un-to my lyves 
ende, sende me grace to biwayle 
my giltes, and to studie to the sal- 
vacioun of my soule : — and graunte 
me grace of verray penitence, con- 
fessioun and satisfaccioun to doon 
in this present lyf; / thurgh the 
benigne grace of him that is king 
of kinges and preest over alle 
preestes, that Ixjghte us with the 
preci<jus blood of his herte; / so 
that I may lieen odu of hem at the 
day of dome that shuUe be saved : 
Qui cum patre, ^'c. 

of Caunterbury, compiled by Geffrey 
Crist have mercy. Amen. 



\ 



1092 



APPENDIX TO GROUP A. 



TIIK TALK OF GAMELYN. 



LiTHETH, and lesteneth • and herkenelh 

aright, 
And ye schuUe heere a talking • (jf a 

douglity knight; 
Sire lohan of Boundys • was his righte 

name, 
He cowrie of norture y-nough ' and 

mochil of game. 
Thre sones the knight hadde * that with 

his body he wan; 5 

The eldest was a mtjche schrewe • and 

sone he bigan. 
His bretheren loved wel here fader * and 

of him were agast, 
The eldest deserved his fadre's curs ' and 

had it at the last. 



The goode knight his fader • livede so 

yore. 
That deth was comen him to • and han- 
dled him ful sore. 10 
'J'he goode knight cared sore • syk tlier li<: 

lay. 
How his children Bcholde • liven after his 

day. 
He hadde ben wyde-wher ' but non hous- 

Ijond he was, 
Al the l(jnd that he hadde • it was verrey 

purchas. 
I'ayn he wolde it were • dressed among 

hem alle, IS 

Ihat ech <jf hem liadde his part • as if 

niigiilc falle. 



17-71.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



315 



Tho sente he in-to cuntic • after vvysc 

knightes, 
To helpe dclen his londes • and dressen 

hem tu-rightes. 
He sente hem word by lettres • they schul- 

den hye hlyve, 
If they vvolde spekc with him • vvhyl he 

was on lyve. 20 

Tho the kniglites herden * syk that he 

lay, 
Hadde they no reste • nother night ne 

day, 
Til they comen to him • ther he lay 

stille 
On his dcth-bedde • to abyde goddes 

wille. 
Than seyde the go<jde knight • syk ther 

he lay, 21; 

• Lordes, 1 you warne ' Ajr soth, withoute 

nay, 
I may no lenger liven • heer in this 

stounde ; 
For thurgh goddes wille • deth draweth 

me to grounde.' 
Ther nas non of hem alle • that herde 

him aright, 
That they ne hadden reuthe ' of that 

ilke knight, 30 

And seyde, * sir, for goddes love • ne dis- 
may you nought ; 
God may do bote of bale • that is now 

y-wrought.' 
Than spak tlie goode knight • syk ther 

he lay, 
' Boote of bale god may sende * I wot it 

is no nay; 
But I byseke you, knightes • for the love 

of me, 35 

Goth and dresseth my lond " among my 

sones three. 
And sires, for the love of god * deleth 

hem nat amis, 
And furgetith nat Gamelyn • my yonge 

sone that is. 
Taketh heed to that on • as wel as to that 

other; 
Selde ye see ony eyr * hcli)cn his Ijruther,' 
Tho leete they the knight lyen * that 

was nought in hele, 41 

And wenten in-to counsel • his londes for 

to dele; 
For to delen hem allc • to oon, that was 

her tiiought, 



And for Gamelyn was yongest ' he schulde 

have nought. 
Al tiie lond that ther was • they dalten 

it in two, 4^ 

And leeten Gamelyn the yonge • withoute 

londe go, 
And eeh of hem seyde * to other ful lowdc. 
His bretheren mighte yeve him lond* 

whan he good cowde. 
Whan they hadde deled • the lond at here 

wille. 
They comen ayein to the knight • ther he 

lay ful stille, 50 

And tolden him anon-right * how they 

l^atlden wrought ; 
And the knight ther he lay • lyked it 

right nought. 
Than scyele the knight • * by seynt Mar- 

tyn. 
For al that ye have y-doon • yit is the 

lond myn ; 
For goddes hn-e, neyhebours • stondeth 

alle stille, 55 

And I wil dele my lond ' right after my 

wille. 
luhan, myn eldeste sone • schal have 

plovves fyve. 
That was my fadres heritage * whyl he was 

on lyve ; 
And my mitldeleste sone * fyve plovves 

of lond. 
That I halp for to gete • with my righte 

hond ; 60 

And al myn other purchas ' of londes 

and leedes, 
That I l)i<iuethe Gamelyn • and alle my 

g(.)ode steedcs. 
And I biseke yow, guode men • that lawe 

conne of londe, 
For Gamelynes love • that my queste 

stonde.' 
Thus dalte the knight • his lond by his 

day, 65 

Right on his deth-])edde • syk ther he lay; 
Ami sone aftirward " he lay stoon-stille, 
And deyde whan tyme com • as it was 

Cristes wille. 
And anon as he was deed * and under 

gras y-grave, 
Sone the elder brother • gyled the yonge 

knave; 70 

He took into his bond' his lond and his 

leede, 



3i6 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[72-12^ 



And Gamelyn himselfe • to clothen and 

to feede. 
He clothed him and fedde him ' yvel and 

eek wrothe, 
And leet his londes for-fare • and his 

houses bothe, 
His parkes and his woodes • and dede 

nothing wel ; 75 

And seththen he it aboughte • on his faire 

fel. 
So longe was Gamelyn • in his brotheres 

halle, 
For the strengest, of good vvil • they 

doutiden him alle; 
Ther was non ther-inne • nowther yong 

ne old, 
That wolde wrath the Gamelyn • were he 

never so bold. 80 

Gamelyn stood on a day • in his brotheres 

yerde, 
And bigan with his hond • to handlen his 

berde ; 
He thoughte on his londes • that layen 

unsawe, 
And his faire okes ' that down were 

y-drawe ; 
His parkes were y-broken • and his deer 

bireved ; 85 

Of alle his goode steedes • noon was him 

bileved; 
His howses were unhiled • and ful yvel 

dight; 
Tho thoughte Gamelyn * it wente nought 

aright. 
Afterward cam his brother • walkinge 

thare, 
And seyde to Gamelyn • ' is our mete yare ?' 
Tho wraththed him Gamelyn • and swor 

by goddes book, 91 

'Thou schalt go bake thy-self-I wil 

nought be thy cook ! ' 
* How? brother Gamelyn • how answerest 

thou now? 
Thou spake never such a word * as thou 

dost now.' 
' By my faith,' seyde Gamelyn • * now me 

thinketh neede, 95 

Of alle the harmes that I have • I tok 

never ar heede. 
My parkes ben to-broken • and my deer 

bireved, 
Of myn armure and my steedes • nought 

is me bileved; 



I 



Al that my fader me biquath • al goth t< 

schame. 
And therfor have thou goddes curs 

brother by thy name ! ' la 

Than bispak his brother • that rape wa 

of rees, 
' Stond stille, gadeling • and hold righ' 

thy pees; 
Thou schalt be fayn for to have * thy met 

and thy wede; 
What spekest thou, Gamelyn • of lon( 

other of leede?' 
Thanne seyde Gamelyn • the child tha 

was ying, 105 

' Cristes curs mot he have ' that clepeth 

me gadeling ! 
I am no worse gadeling • ne no worse 

wight, 
But born of a lady • and geten of a 

knight.' 
Ne durste he nat to Gamelyn • ner a-foote 

go. 
But clepide to him his men • and seyde to 

hem tho, iio 

' Goth and beteth this boy • and reveth 

him his wit, 
And lat him lerne another tyme * to an- 

swere me bet.' 
Thanne seyde the child * yonge Gamelyn, 
* Cristes curs mot thou have • brother art 

thou myn ! 
And if I schal algate • be beten anon, 115 
Cristes curs mot thou have • but thou be 

that oon ! ' 
And anon his brother* in that grete hete 
Made his men to fette staves • Gamelyn 

to bete. 
Whan that everich of hem * a staf hadde 

y-nome, 
Gamelyn was war anon • tho he seigh 

hem come; 120 

Tho Gamelyn seigh him come * he loked 

over-al. 
And was war of a pestel • stood under a 

wal; 
Gamelyn was light of foot • and thider 

gan he lepe. 
And drof alle his brotheres men * right on 

an hepe. 
He loked as a wilde lyoun • and leyde on 

good woon; 125 

Tho his brother say that ' he bigan to 

goon; 



I27-I8I.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



317 



He fley up in-til a loft • and schette the 

dore fast; 
Thus Gameryn with the pestel * made hem 

alle agast. 
Some for Gamelynes love • and some for 

his eye, 
Alle they drowe by halves • tho he gan to 

pleye. 130 

'What! how now?' seyde -Gamelyn • 

' evel mot ye thee ! 
Wil ye biginne contek • and so sone 

flee?' 
Gamelyn soughte his brother • whider he 

was flowe, 
And saugh wher he loked • out at a win- 

dowe. 

• Brother,' sayde Gamelyn • ' com a litel 

ner, 135 

And I wil teche thee a play • atte boke- 

ler.' 
His brother him answerde * and swor by 

seynt Richer, 
' Whyl the pestel is in thin hond • I wil 

come no neer : 
Brother, I wil make thy pees * I swere by 

Cristes ore; 
Cast away the pestel • and wraththe thee 

no-more.' 140 

* I mot neede,' sayde Gamelyn • ' wraththe 

me at oones. 
For thou wolde make thy men • to breke 

myne boones, 
Ne hadde I had mayn • and might in myn 

armes, 
To have y-put hem fro me • they wolde 

have do me harmes.' 
'Gamelyn,' sayde his brother •' be thou 

nought wroth, 145 

For to seen thee have harm • it were me 

right loth; 
I ne dide it nought, brother • but for a 

fonding, 
For to loken if thou were strong • and 

art so ying.' 
' Com a-doun than to me • and graunte 

me my bone 
Of thing I wil thee aske ' and we schul 

saughte sone.' 150 

Doun than cam his brother • that fikil was 

and fel, 
And was swithe sore • agast of the pestel. 
He seyde, ' brother Gamelyn • aske me 

thy boone, 



And loke thou me blame * but I graunte 

sone.' 154 

Thanne seyde Gamelyn • * brother, y-wis, 
And we schuUe ben at oon • thou most 

me graunte this : 
Al that my fader me biquath • whyl he 

was on lyve, 
Thou most do me it have • yif we schul 

nat stryve.' 
* That schalt thou have, Gamelyn • I swere 

by Cristes ore ! 
Al that thy fader thee biquath • though 

thou woldest have more; 160 

Thy lond, that lyth laye • ful wel it schal 

be sowe. 
And thyn howses reysed up • that ben 

leyd so lowe.' 
Thus seyde the knight • to Gamelyn with 

mowthe, 
And thoughte eek of falsnes • as he wel 

couthe. 
The knight thoughte on tresoun • and 

Gamelyn on noon, 165 

And wente and kiste his brother ' and, 

whan they were at oon, 
Alias ! yonge Gamelyn • nothing he ne 

wiste 
With which a false tresoun • his brother 

him kiste ! 
Litheth, and lesteneth • and holdeth 

your tonge. 
And ye schul heere talking • of Gamelyn 

the yonge. 170 

Ther was ther bisyden • cryed a wrastling, 
And therfor ther was set up • a ram and a 

ring; 
And Gamelyn was in good wil • to wende 

therto. 
For to preven his might * what he cowthe 

do. 
' Brother,' seyde Gamelyn * ' by seynt 

Richer, 175 

Thou most lene me to-night • a litel 

courser 
That is freisch to the spore • on for to 

ryde; 
I most on an erande • a litel her bisyde.' 
' By god ! ' seyde his brother • * of steedes 

in my stalle 
Go and chese thee the best • and spare non 

of alle 180 

Of steedes or of coursers • that stonden 

hem bisyde; 



3i8 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[182-236. 



And tel me, goode brother • whider thou 

wolt ryde.' 
* Her bisyde, brother • is cryed a wras- 

thng, 
And therfor schal be set up ' a ram and a 

ring; 
Moche worschip it were • brother, to us 

alle, 185 

Might I the ram and the ring • bring home 

to this halle.' 
A steede ther was sadeled • smertely and 

skeet; 
Gamelyn did a paire spores -fast on his feet. 
He sette his foot in the styrop • the steede 

he bistrood, 
And toward the wrasteling • the yonge 

child rood. 190 

Tho (lamelyn the yonge • was ride out at 

the gat, 
The false knight his brother • lokked it 

after that, 
And bisoughte lesu Crist • that is heven 

king, 
He mighte breke his nekke • in that 

wrasteling. 
As sone as Gamelyn com * ther the place 

was, 195 

He lighte doun of his steede • and stood 

on the gras, 
And ther he herd a frankeleyn • waylo- 

way singe, 
And bigan bitterly ' his hondes for to 

wringe. 
'Goode man,' seyde Gamelyn •' why 

makestow this fare? 
Is ther no man that may • you helpe out 

of this care?' 200 

* Alias ! ' seyde this frankeleyn • ' that ever 

was I bore ! 
For tweye stalworthe sones • I wene that 

I have lore; 
A champioun is in the place • that hath 

y-wrought me sorwe. 
For he hath slayn my two sones * but-if 

god hem borwe. 
I wold yeve ten pound • by lesu Crist ! 

and more, 205 

With the nones I fand a man • to han- 

delen him sore.' 

* Goode man,' sayde Gamelyn • ' wilt thou 

wel doon. 
Hold myn hors, whyl my man • draweth 
of my schoon, 



And help my man to kepe ' my clothes 

and my steede. 
And I vvil into place go • to loke if I may 

speede.' 210 

' By god ! ' sayde the frankeleyn • ' anon 

it schal be doon; 
I wil my-self be thy man • and drawen of 

thy schoon. 
And wende thou into the place • lesu 

Crist thee speede, 
And drede not of thy clothes * nor of thy 

goode steede.' 
Barfoot and ungert • Gamelyn in cam, 
Alle that weren in the place • heede of 

him they nam, 216 

How he durste auntre him • of him to 

doon his might 
That was so doughty champioun • in 

wrastling and in tight. 
Up sterte the champioun • rapely and 

anoon, 
Toward yonge Gamelyn • he bigan to 

goon, 220 

And sayde, ' who is thy fader • and who 

is thy sire? 
For sothe thou art a gret fool • that thou 

come hire ! ' 
Gamelyn answerde * the champioun tho, 
' Thou knewe wel my fader • whyl he 

couthe go, 
Whyles he was on lyve • by seint Martyn ! 
Sir lohan of Boundys was his name • and 

I Gamelyn.' 226 

' Felaw,' seyde the champioun • ' al-so 

mot I thryve, 
I knew wel thy fader * while he was on 

lyve; 
And thyself, Gamelyn • I wil that thou it 

heere, 
Whyl thou were a yong boy • a moche 

schrewe thou were.' 230 

Than seyde Gamelyn * and swor by Cristes 

ore, 
'Now I am ohler woxe • thou schalt me 

finde a more ! ' 
' By god ! ' sayde the champioun • * wel- 
come mote thou be ! 
Come thou ones in myn bond ' schalt thou 

never thee.' 
It was wel withinne the night * and the 

moone schon, 235 

Whan Gamelyn and the champioun • to- 

gider gonne goon. 



237-290.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



319 



The champioun caste tornes * to Gamelyn 
that was prest, 

And Gamelyn stood stille • and bad him 
doon his best. 

Thanne seyde Gamelyn * to the cham- 
pioun, 

* Thou art faste aboute • to bringe me 

adoun; 240 

Now I have y-proved • many tornes of 

thyne, 
Thow most,' he seyde, * proven • on or 

two of myne.' 
Gamelyn to the champioun • yede smertely 

anon, 
Of all the tornes that he cowthe • he 

schevved him but oon, 
And caste him on the lefte syde ' that 

three ribbes to-brak, 245 

And ther-to his oon arm • that yaf a gret 

crak. 
Thanne seyde Gamelyn • smertely anoon, 

* Schal it be holde for a cast • or elles for 

noon? ' 
'By god ! ' seyde the champioun • 'whether 

that it be. 
He that cometh ones in thin hand * schal 

he never thee ! ' 250 

Than seyde the frankeleyn * that had his 

sones there, 

* Blessed be thou, Gamelyn • that ever 

thou bore were ! ' 
The frankeleyn seyde to the champioun • 

of him stood him noon eye, 
'This is yonge Gamelyn • that taughte 

thee this pleye.' 
Agein answerd the champioun • that lyked 

nothing wel, 255 

* He is a lither mayster * and his pley is 

right fel; 
Sith I wrastled first ' it is y-go ful 

yore. 
But I was nevere in my lyf • handeled so 

sore.' 
Gamelyn stood in the place ' allone with- 

oute serk, 
And seyde, ' if ther be eny mo • lat hem 

come to werk; 260 

The champioun that peyned him • to 

werke so sore, 
It semeth by his continaunce * that he 

wil no-more.' 
Gamelyn in the place • stood as stille as 
S stoon, 



For to abyde wrasteling • but ther com 

noon; 
Ther was noon with Gamelyn • wolde 

wrastle more, 265 

For he handled the champioun • so won- 

derly sore. 
Two gentil-men ther were • that yemede 

the place, 
Comen to Gamelyn • (god yeve him goode 

grace !) 
And sayde to him, * do on • thyn hosen 

and thy schoon, 
For sothe at this tyme • this feire is 

y-doon.' 270 

And than seyde Gamelyn • *so mot I wel 

fare, 
I have nought yet halven-del • sold up my 

ware.' 
Tho seyde the champioun • * so brouke I 

my sweere, 
He is a fool that ther-of byeth • thou sell- 

est it so deere.' 
Tho sayde the frankeleyn • that was in 

moche care, 275 

' Felaw,' he seyde • ' why lakkest thou 

his ware? 
By seynt lame in Galys • that many man 

hath sought. 
Yet it is to good cheep • that thou hast 

y-bought.' 
Tho that wardeynes were * of that wras- 
teling 
Come and broughte Gamelyn * the ram 

and the ring, 280 

And seyden, * have, Gamelyn • the ring 

and the ram, 
For the beste wrasteler ' that ever here 

cam.' 
Thus wan Gamelyn • the ram and the ring, 
And wente with moche loye • home in 

the morning. 
His brother seih wher he cam • with the 

grete rowte, 285 

And bad schitte the gate • and holde him 

withoute. 
The porter of his lord • was ful sore 

agast, 
And sterte anon to the gate • and lokked 

it fast. 
Now litheth, and lesteneth • bothe 

yonge and olde. 
And ye schul heere gamen ' of Gamelyn 

the bolde. 290 



320 



THE CANTERBURY TAT.ES. 



[291 



fo5: 



Gamelyn come ther-to • for to have comen 

in, 
And thanne was it y-schet • faste with a 

pin; 
Than seyde Gamelyn • ' porter, undo the 

yat, 
For many good mannes sone • stondeth 

ther-at.' 
Than answerd the porter • and swor by 

goddes berde, 295 

'Thow ne schalt, Gamelyn • come into 

this yerde.' 
* Thow lixt,' sayde Gamelyn • * so browke 

I my chin ! ' 
He smot the wiket with his foot ' and 

brak awey the pin. 
The porter seyh tho • it might no better 

be, 
He sette foot on erthe • and bigan to flee. 
' By my faith,' seyde Gamelyn • ' that tra- 
vail is y-lore, 3^^ 
For I am of foot as light as thou • though 

thou haddest swore.' 
Gamelyn overtook the porter • and his 

teene wrak, 
And gerte him in the nekke ' that the 

bon to-brak. 
And took him by that oon arm • and 

threw him in a welle, 305 

Seven fadmen it was deep * as I have 

her.i telle. 
Whan Gamelyn the yonge * thus hadde 

pleyd his play, 
Alle that in the yerde were ' drewen hem 

away ; 
They dredden him ful sore • for werkes 

that he wrcjughte, 
And for the faire company • that he thider 

broughte. 3^° 

Gamelyn yede to the gate • and leet it up 

wyde ; 
He leet in alle maner men • that gon in 

wolde or ryde. 
And seyde, ' ye be welcome • withouten 

eny greeve. 
For we \\ iln be maistres heer * and aske 
no man leve. 314 

Yestirday I lefte' ' seyde yonge Gamelyn, 
' In my brother seller ■ fyve tonne of wyn; 
1 wil not that this compaignye • parten 

a-twinne. 
And ye wil doon after me • whyl eny sope 
is thrinne, 



And if my brother grucche * or make foi 

cheere, | 

Other for spense of mete or drink • that 

we spenden heere, 320 

I am oure catour ' and here oure aller .| 

purs, i 

He schal have for his grucching • seint J 

Maries curs. 
My brother is a niggoun • I swer by 

Cristes ore. 
And we wil spende largely ' that he hatkl 

spared yore; 
And who that maketh grucching • that 

we here dwelle, 325 : 

He schal to the porter • into the draw- 

welle.' 
Seven dayes and seven night • Gamelyn 

held his feste. 
With moche mirth and solas • that was 

ther, and no cheste; 
In a little toret ■ his brother lay y-steke. 
And sey hem wasten his good ■ but durste 

he not speke. 330 

Erly on a morning • on the eighte day, 
The gestes come to Gamelyn • and wolde 

gon here way. 
* Lordes,' seyde Gamelyn • * wil ye so hye? 
Al the wyn is not yet dronke • so brouke 

I myn ye.' 
Gamelyn in his herte * was he ful wo, 335 
Whan his gestes took her leve • from him 

for to go; 
He wolde they had lenger abide • and 

they seyde * nay,' 
But bitaughte Ciamelyn • god, and good 

day. 
Thus made Gamelyn his feest • and 

broughte it wel to ende, 
And after his gestes • took leve to wende. 
Litheth, and lesteneth • and holdeth 

youre tonge, 341 

And ye schul heere gamen * of Gamelyn 

the yonge; 
Herkeneth, lordinges • and lesteneth 

aright, 
Whan alle gestes were goon * how Game- 
lyn was dight. 
Al the whyl that Gamelyn ' heeld his 
mangerye, 345 

His brother thoughte on him be wreke ' 

with his treccherye, 
Tho Gamelyns gestes • were riden and 
y-goon, 



348-402.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



32] 



Gamelyn stood allone * frendes had he 

noon ; 
Tho after ful soone • vvithinne a litel 

stounde, ' 
Gamelyn Avas y-taken • and ful harde 

y-bounde. 350 

Forth com the false knight * out of the 

soleer, 
To Gamelym his brother • he yede ful 

neer, 
And sayde to Gamelyn • * who made thee 

so bold 
For to stroye my stoor • of myn hous- 

hold?' 
'Brother,' seyde Gamelyn •* wraththe 

thee right nought, 355 

For it is many day y-gon • siththen it was 

bought; 
For, brother, thou hast y-had • by seynt 

Richer, 
Of fiftene plowes of lond * this sixtene yer, 
And of alle the beestes • thou hast forth 

bred, 
That my fader me biquath • on his deth- 

bed ; 360 

Of al this sixtene yeer • I yeve thee the 

prow, 
For the mete and the drink • that we have 

spended now.' 
Thanne seyde the false knight • (evel 

mot he thee !) 
* Herkne, brother Gamelyn * what I wol 

yeve thee; 
For of my body, brother • heir geten have 

I noon, 365 

I wil make thee myn heir • I swere by 

seint lohan.' 
' Par ma foy ! ' sayde Gamelyn • ' and if it 

so be, 
And thou thenke as thou seyst • god yelde 

it thee ! ' 
Nothing wiste Gamelyn • of his brotheres 

gyle; 
Therfore he him bigyled • in a litle 

whyle. 370 

'Gamelyn,' seyde he • ' o thing I thee 

telle; 
Tho thou threwe my porter • in the draw- 

welle, 
I swor in that wraththe • and in that grete 

moot, 
That thou schuldest be bounde • bothe 

hand and foot; 



I 



Therfore I thee biseche • brother Game- 

lyn, 375 

Lat me nought be forsworen • brother art 

thou myn; 
Lat me binde thee now • bothe hand and 

feet, 
For to holde myn avow • as I thee bi- 

heet.' 
' Brother,' sayde Gamelyn • * al-so mot I 

thee! 
Thou schalt not be forsworen • for the 

love of me.' 380 

Tho made they Gamelyn to sitte • mighte 

he nat stonde. 
Til they hadde him bounde • bothe foot 

and honde. 
The false knight his brothei * of Gamelyn 

was agast, 
And sente aftir feteres • to feteren him 

f. .t. 
His b'-other made lesinges • on him ther 

he stood, 385 

And tolde hem that comen in • that 

Gamelyn was wood. 
Gamelyn stood to a post • bounden in 

the halle, 
Tho that comen in ther • lokede on him 

alle. 
Ever stood Gamelyn • even upright; 
But mete ne drink had he non • neither 

day ne night. 390 

Than seyde Gamelyn • ' brother, by myn 

hals, 
Now I have aspyed • thou art a party 

fals; 
Had I wist that tresoun • that thou had- 

dest y-founde, 
I wolde have yeve thee strokes • or I had 

be bounde ! ' 
Gamelyn stood bounden * stille as eny 

stoon; 395 

Two dayes and two nightes • mete had he 

noon. 
Thanne seyde Gamelyn • that stood 

y-bounde stronge, 
' Adam spenser • me thinkth I faste to 

longe; 
Adam spenser • now I byseche thee, 
For the mochel love • my fader loved 

thee, 400 

If thou may come to the keyes ' lese me 

out of bond. 
And I wil parte with thee • of my free lond.' 



322 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[403-460. 



Thanne seyde Adam • that was the 
spencer, 

* I have served thy brother • this sixtene 

yeer, 

If I leete thee goon • out of his hour, 405 

He wolde say afterward • I were a tray- 
tour.' 

'Adam,' sayde Gamelyn * ' so brouke I 
myn hals ! 

Thou schalt iinde my brother • atte laste 
fals; 

Therfor, brother Adam • louse me out of 
bond, 

And I wil parte with thee • of my free 
lond.' 410 

* Up swich a forward ' ' seyde Adam, 

* y-wis, 
I wil do therto • al that in me is.' 

* Adam,' seyde Gamelyn • ' al-so mot I 

thee, 
I wol holde thee covenant • and thou wil 

me,' 
Anon as Adames lord • to bedde was 

y-goon, 415 

Adam took the keyes, and leet • Gamelyn 

out anoon; 
He unlokked Gamelyn • bothe handes 

and feet, 
In hope of avauncement * that he him 

biheet. 
Than seyde Gamelyn * 'thanked be god- 

des sonde ! 419 

Now I am loosed • bothe foot and honde; 
Had I now eten • and dronken aright, 
Ther is noon in this hous * schulde binde 

me this night.' 
Adam took Gamelyn • as stille as ony 

stoon. 
And ladde him in-to spence * rapely and 

anon. 
And sette him to soper ' right in a privee 

stede, 425 

He bad him do gladly • and Gamelyn so 

dede. 
Anon as Gamelyn hadde • eten wel and 

fyn. 
And therto y-dronke wel * of the rede wyn, 

* Adam,' seyde Gamelyn • * what is now thy 

reed? 
Wher I go to my brother • and girde of 
his heed?' 430 

* Gamelyn,' seyde Adam • ' it schal not be 



I can teche thee a reed • that is worth 

the two. 
I wot wel for sothe • that this is no nay, 
We schul have a mangery • right on 

Soneday; 434 

Abbotes and priours • many heer schal be, ■ 
And other men of holy chirche * as I telle 

thee; 
Thow schalt stonde up by the post * as 

thou were hond-fast. 
And I schal leve hem unloke • awey thou 

may hem cast. 
Whan that they have eten • and wasschen 

here hondes. 
Thou schalt biseke hem alle • to bring 

thee out of bondes; 440 

And if they wille borwe thee • that were 

good game. 
Then were thou out of prisoun • and 1 

out of blame; 
And if everich of hem • say unto us 

* nay,* 
I schal do an other ' I swere by this day ! 
Thou schalt have a good staf * and I wil 

have another, 445 

And Cristes curs have that oon • that fail- 

eth that other ! ' 
* Ye, for gode ! ' sayde Gamelyn • * I say 

it for me. 
If I fayle on my syde • yvel mot I thee ! 
If we schul algate ■ assoile hem of here 

sinne, 
Warne me, brother Adam * whan I schal 

biginne.' 450 

' Gamelyn,' seyde Adam • ' by seynte i 

Charite, 
I wil warne thee biforn • whan that it t 

schal be; 
Whan I twinke on thee * loke for to goon, 
And cast awey the feteres ' and com to i 

me anoon.' 
' Adam,' seyde Gamelyn • ' blessed be thy 

bones ! 455 

That is a good counseil • yeven for the 

nones; 
If they werne me thanne • to bringe me : 

out of bendes, 
I wol sette goode strokes • right on here 

lendes.' 
Tho the Sonday was y-come • and folk 

to the feste, 
Faire they were welcomed • both leste 

and meste; 460 



461-518.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



323 



And ever atte halle-dore • as they comen 

in, 
They caste their eye • on yonge Gamelyn. 
The false knight his brother • ful of 

trechery, 
Alle the gestes that ther were • atte 

mangery, 
Of Gamelyn his brother • he tolde hem 

with mouthe 465 

Al the harm and the schame • that he 

telle couthe. 
Tho they were served • of messes two or 

three, 
Than seyde Gamelyn • 'how serve ye me? 
It is nought wel served • by god that al 

made ! 
That I sitte fasting • and other men make 

glade.' 470 

The false knight his brother • ther that 

he stood, 
Tolde alle his gestes • that Gamelyn was 

wood ; 
And Gamelyn stood stille • and answerde 

nought, 
But Adames wordes • he held in his 

thought. 
Tho Gamelyn gan speke • dolfully with- 

alle 475 

To the grete lordes • that saten in the 

halle : 

* Lordes,' he seyde • * for Cristes pas- 

sioun, 
Helpeth bringe Gamelyn * out of prisoun.' 
Than seyde an abbot • sorwe on his 

cheeke ! 

* He schal have Cristes curs • and seynte 

Maries eeke, 480 

That thee out of prisoun • beggeth other 

borwe, 
But ever worthe hem wel • that doth thee 

moche sorwe.' 
After that abbot • than spak another, 

* I wold thin heed were of • though thou 

were my brother ! 
Alle that thee borwe • foule mot hem 

falle ! ' 485 

Thus they seyden alle • that weren in the 

halle. 
Than seyde a priour • yvel mot he thryve ! 
' It is moche scathe, boy • that thou art 

on lyve.' 
' Ow ! ' seyde Gamelyn • ' so brouke I my 

bon! 



Now I have aspyed • that freendes have 

1 non. 490 

Cursed mot he worthe • bothe fleisch and 

blood. 
That ever do priour • or abbot ony 

good ! ' 
Adam the spencer • took up the cloth, 
And loked on Gamelyn • and say that he 

was wroth ; 
Adam on the pantrye • litel he thoughte, 
But two goode staves ' to halle-dore he 

broughte, 496 

Adam loked on Gamelyn • and he was 

war anoon. 
And caste awey the feteres • and he 

bigan to goon : 
Tho he com to Adam • he took that 00 staf. 
And bigan to worche • and goode strokes 

yaf. 500 

Gamelyn cam in-to the halle * and the 

spencer bothe, 
And loked hem aboute * as they had be 

wrothe; 
Gamelyn sprengeth holy-water • with an 

oken spire. 
That some that stoode upright • fellen in 

the fire. 
There was no lewed man • that in the 

halle stood, 505 

That wolde do Gamelyn • eny thing but 

good. 
But stood bisyden • and leet hem bothe 

werche. 
For they hadde no rewthe • of men of 

holy cherche; 
Abbot or priour • monk or chanoun, 
That Gamelyn overtok • anon they yeeden 

doun. 510 

Ther was non of hem alle • that with his 

staf mette. 
That he ne made him overthrowe • and 

quitte him his dette. 
' Gamelyn,' seyde Adam • * for seynte 

Charite, 
Pay large liverey • for the love of me. 
And I vvil kepe the dore • so ever here I 

masse ! 515 

Er they ben assoyled • there shal noon 

passe.' 
' Dowt thee nought,' seyde Gamelyn • 

* whyl we ben in-feere, 
Kep thou wel the dore * and I wol werche 

heere; 



324 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[519-574 



Stere thee, good Adam • and lat ther 

noon flee, 
And we schul telle largely • how many that 

ther be.' 520 

* Gamelyn,' seyde Adam • * do hem but 

good; 
They ben men of holy chirche • draw of 

hem no blood, 
Save wel the croune * and do hem non 

harmes, 
But brek bothe her legges • and siththen 

here armes.' 
Thus Gamelyn and Adam * wroughte 

right fast, 525 

And pleyden with the monkes * and 

made hem agast. 
Thider they come ryding • lolily with 

swaynes, 
And hom ayen they were y-lad ' in cartes 

and in waynes. 
Tho they hadden al y-don • than seyde a 

gray frere, 

* Alias ! sire abbot * what dide we now 

heere ? 530 

Tho that we comen hider • it was a cold 

reed, 
Us hadde ben better at home ' with water 

and with breed.' 
Whyl Gamelyn made ordres • of monkes 

and frere, 
Ever stood his brother • and made foul 

chere; 
Gamelyn up with his staf • that he wel 

knew, 535 

And gerte him in the nekke ' that he 

overthrew; 
A litel above the girdel * the rigge-bon 

to-barst; 
And sette him in the feteres • ther he sat 

arst. 

* Sitte ther, brother ' • sayde Gamelyn, 

* For to colen thy blood • as I dide myn.' 
As swythe as they hadde • y-wroken hem 

on here foon, 541 

They askeden watir • and wisschen 

, anoon. 
What some for here love • and some for 

here awe, 
Alle the servants served hem • of the beste 

lawe. 
The scherreve was thennes • but a fyve 

myle, 545 

And al was y-told him • in a litcl whyle, 



How Gamelyn and Adam • had doon a 

sory rees, 
Bounden and y-wounded men • ayein the 

kinges pees; 
Tho bigan some • stryf for to wake, 
And the scherref was aboute * Gamelyn 

for to take. 550 

Now lytheth and lesteneth * so god yif 

you good fyn ! 
And ye schul heere good game • of yonge 

Gamelyn. 
Four and twenty yonge men • that heelden 

hem ful bolde, 
Come to the schirref'and seyde that 

they wolde 
Gamelyn and Adam • fetten, by her fay; 
The scherref yaf hem leve • soth as I you 

say; 556 

They hyeden faste • wold they nought 

bilinne. 
Til they come to the gate • ther Gamelyn 

was inne. 
They knokked on the gate • the porter 

was ny, 
And loked out at an hoi * as man that 

was sly. 560 

The porter hadde biholde • hem a litel 

whyle. 
He lovel wel Gamelyn • and was adrad 

of gyle. 
And leet the wicket stonden • y-steke ful 

stille. 
And asked hem withoute * what was here 

wille. 
For al the grete company • thanne spak 

but oon, 565 

* Undo the gate, porter • and lat us in 

goon.' 
Than seyde the porter • ' so brouke I my 

chin. 
Ye schul sey your erand • er ye comen 

in.' 
' Sey to Gamelyn and Adam • if here 

wille be. 
We wil speke with hem • wordes two or 

thre.' 570 

' Felaw,' seyde the porter • * stond there 

stille, 
And I wil wende to Gamelyn • to witen 

his wille.' 
In wente the porter * to Gamelyn anoon. 
And seyde, ' Sir, I warne you • her ben 

come your foon; 



575-632.] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



325 



The scherreves meyne • ben atte gate, 
For to take you bothe • schuUe ye nat 

scape.' 576 

' Porter,' seyde Gamelyn * * so moot I wel 

thee! 
I wil allowe thee thy wordes ' whan I my 

tyme see; 
Go agayn to the yate • and dvvel with hem 

a whyle. 
And thou schal.t see right sone * porter, a 

gyle. 
Adam,' sayde Gamelyn • * looke thee to 

goon; 581 

We have foo-men atte gate • and frendes 

never oon; 
It ben the schirrefes men * that hider ben 

y-come. 
They ben swore to-gidere * that we schul 

be nome.' 
'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam * * hye thee right 

blyve, 585 

And if I faile thee this day • evel mot I 

thryve ! 
And we schul so welcome • the scherreves 

men. 
That some of hem schul make ' here 

beddes in the fen.' 
Atte posterne-gate • Gamelyn out wente, 
And a good cart-staf-in his hand he 

hente; 590 

Adam hente sone* another gret staf 
For to helpen Gamelyn • and goode strokes 

yaf. 
Adam felde tweyne ' and Gamelyn felde 

three, 
The other setten feet on erthe • and bi- 

gonne flee. 
'What?' seyde Adam •' so ever here I 

masse ! 595 

I have a draught of good wyn ! ' drink er 

ye passe ! ' 
' Nay, by god ! ' sayde thay • ' thy drink 

is not good, 
It wolde make mannes brayn • to lyen in 

his hood.' 
Gamelyn stood stille • and loked him 

aboute, 
And seih the scherreve come * with a 

gret route. 600 

* Adam,' seyde Gamelyn * ' what be now 

thy reedes? 
Here cometh the scherreve • and wil 

have oure heedes.' 



Adam sayde, ' Gamelyn • my reed is now 

this, 
Abyde we no lenger * lest we fare amis : 
I rede that we to wode goon • ar that we 

be founde, 605 

Better is us ther loos * than in town 

y-bounde.' 
Adam took by the hond • yonge Gamelyn; 
And everich of hem two • drank a 

draught of wyn. 
And after took her cours • and wenten 

her way; 
Tho fond the scherreve • nest, but non 

ay. 610 

The scherreve lighte adoun • and went 

in-to the halle, 
And fond the lord y-fetered • faste with- 

alle. 
The scherreve unfetered him • sone, and 

that anoon. 
And sente after a leche • to hele his rigge- 

boon. 
Lete we now this false knight • lyen in 

his care, 615 

And talke we of Gamelyn • and loke how 

he fare. 
Gamelyn in-to the woode • stalkede stille. 
And Adam the spenser • lykede ful ille; 
Adam swor to Gamelyn • by seynt 

Richer, 619 

' Now I see it is mery * to be a spencer. 
That lever me were • keyes for to here, 
Than walk en in this wilde woode • my 

clothes to tere.' 
'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn •' dismaye thee 

right nought; 
Many good mannes child • in care is 

y-brought.' 
And as they stoode talking* bothen in- 

feere, 625 

Adam herd talking of men • and neyh, 

him thought, they were. 
Tho Gamelyn under the woode • lokede 

aright, 
Sevene score of yonge men • he saugh wel 

a-dight; 
Alle satte atte mete * in compas aboute. 
'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn •' now have we 

no doute, 630 

After bale cometh boote * thurgh grace 

of god almight; 
Me thinketh of mete and drink • that I 

have a sight.' 



326 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[633-689. 



Adam lokede tho ' under woode-bowgh, 
And whan he seyh mete • he was glad 

y-nough; 
For he hopede to god ' for to have his deel, 
And he was sore alonged • after a good 

meel. 636 

As he seyde that word • the mayster out- 

lawe 
Saugh Gamelyn and Adam * under wood- 

schawe. 

* Yonge men,' seyde the maister * * by the 

goode roode, 
I am war of gestes ' god sende us non but 

goode; 640 

Yonder ben two yonge men • wonder wel 

a-dight, 
And paraventure ther ben mo • who-so 

lokede aright. 
Ariseth up, ye yonge men • and fetteth 

hem to me; 
It is good that we witen • what men they 

be.' 
Up ther sterten sevene • fro the diner, 
And metten with Gamelyn " and Adam 

spenser. 646 

Whan they were neyh hem * than seyde 

that oon, 

* Yeldeth up, yonge men • your bowes and 

your floon.' 
Thanne seyde Gamelyn • that yong was of 

elde, 
' Moche sorwe mot he have • that to you 

hem yelde ! 650 

I curse non other * but right my-selve; 
They ye fette to yow fyve • thanne ye be 

twelve ! ' 
Tho they herde by his word ' that might 

was in his arm, 
Ther was non of hem alle • that wolde do 

him harm, 
But sayde unto Gamelyn * mildely and 

stille, 655 

* Com afore our maister • and sey to him 

thy wille.' 

* Yonge men,' sayde Gamelyn • * by your 

lewte, 
What man is your maister * that ye with 

be?' 
Alle they answerde • withoute lesing, 
' Oure maister is y-crouned • of outlawes 

king.' 660 

* Adam,' seyde Gamelyn • * go-we in Cristes 

name ; 



He may neyther mete nor drink • werne 

us, for schame. 
If that he be hende * and come of gentil 

blood, 
He wol yeve us mete and drink • and 

doon us som good.' 
* By seynt lame ! ' seyde Adam • * what 

harm that I gete, 665 

I wil auntre to the dore • that I hadde 

mete.' 
Gamelyn and Adam ' wente forth in- 

feere. 
And they grette the maister • that they 

founde there. 
Than seide the maister * king of outlawes, 
' What seeke ye, yonge men • under 

woode-schawes?' 670 

Gamelyn answerde • the king with his 

croune, 
' He moste needes walke in woode • that 

may not walke in towne. 
Sire, we walke not heer • noon harm for 

to do, 
But-if we meete with a deer • to scheete 

ther-to. 
As men that ben hungry • and mow no 

mete finde, 675 

And ben harde bistad • under woode- 

linde.' 
Of Gamelynes wordes * the maister hadde 

routhe. 
And seyde, ' ye schal have y-nough • have 

god my trouthe ! ' 
He bad hem sitte ther adoun • for to take 

reste; 
And bad hem ete and drinke • and that 

of the beste. 680 

As they sete and eeten * and dronke wel 

and fyn, 
Than seyde that oon to that other* 

' this is Gamelyn.' 
Tho was the maister outlawe ' in-to coun- 

seil nome. 
And told how it was Gamelyn • that 

thider was y-come. 
Anon as he herde • how it was bifalle, 
He made him maister under him • over 

hem alle. 686 

Within the thridde wyke • him com tyding, 
To the maister outlawe • that tho was her 

king. 
That he schulde come horn ' his pees was 

y-mad; 



690-744-] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



327 



And of that goode tyding • he was tho ful 

glad. 690 

Tho seyde he to his yonge men • * soth 

for to telle, 
Me ben comen tydinges • I may no lenger 

dwelle.' 
Tho was Gamelyn anon • withoute tarying, 
Maad maister outlawe* and crouned here 

king. 
Tho was Gamelyn crouned • king of 

outlawes, 695 

And walked a whyle • under woode- 

schawes. 
The false knight his brother • was scher- 

reve and sire, 
And leet his brother endite • for hate and 

for ire. 
Tho were his bonde-men • sory and noth- 
ing glad, 
When Gamelyn her lord * * wolves-heed ' 

was cryed and maad; 700 

And sente out of his men • wher they 

might him finde, 
For to seke Gamelyn • under woodelinde. 
To telle him tydinges • how the wind was 

went. 
And al his good reved ' and his men schent 
Whan they had him founde • on knees 

they hem sette, 705 

And a-doun with here hood * and here 

lord grette; 
* Sire, wraththe you nought • for thegoode 

roode, 
For we have brought you tydinges • but 

they be nat goode. 
Now is thy brother scherreve * and hath 

the baillye. 
And he hath endited thee • and ' wolves- 
heed ' doth thee crye.' 710 
* Alias ! ' seyde Gamelyn • * that ever I 

was so slak 
That I ne hadde broke his nekke • tho I 

his rigge brak ! 
Goth, greteth hem wel • myn housbondes 

and wyf, 
I wol ben atte nexte schire • have god 

my lyf ! ' 
Gamelyn com wel redy ' to the nexte 

schire, 715 

And ther was his brother • bothe lord and 

sire. 
Gamelyn com boldelich • in-to the moot- 

halle. 



And putte a-doun his hood • among the 
lordes alle; 

* God save you alle, lordinges • that now 

here be ! 
But broke-bak scherreve • evel mot thou 

thee ! 720 

Why hast thou do me • that schame and 

vilonye, 
For to late endite me • and ' wolves-heed* 

me crye?' 
Tho thoughte the false knight • for to ben 

awreke, 
And leet take Gamelyn • moste he no 

more speke; 
Might ther be no more grace • but Game- 
lyn atte laste 725 
Was cast in-to prisoun * and fetered ful 

faste. 
Gamelyn hath a brother • that highte 

sir Ote, 
As good a knight and hende ' as mighte 

gon on foote. 
Anon ther yede a messager • to that 

goode knight. 
And tolde him al-togidere • how Gamelyn 

was dight. 730 

Anon as sire Ote herde • how Gamelyn 

was a-dight. 
He was wonder sory • was he no-thing 

light, 
And leet sadle a steede • and the way he 

nam, 
And to his tweyne bretheren • anon-right 

he cam. 

* Sire,' seyde sire Ote • to the scherreve tho, 
' We ben but three bretheren • schul we 

never be mo; 73^ 

And thou hast y-prisoned ' the beste of 

us alle; 
Swich another brother • yvel mot him 

bifalle ! ' 
' Sire Ote,' seide the false knight ' * lat be 

thy curs; 
By god, for thy wordes • he schal fare the 

wurs; 740 

To the kinges prisoun * anon he is 

y-nome. 
And ther he schal abyde • til the Justice 

come.' 

* Parde ! ' seyde sir Ote • * better it schal 

be; 
I bidde him to maynpris • that thou 
graunte him me 



328 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[745-799. 



Til the nexte sitting • of deliver- 

aunce, 745 

And thanne lat Gamelyn • stande to his 

chaunce.' 
' Brother, in swich a forward * I take him 

to thee; 
And by thy fader soule • that thee bigat 

and me, 
But-if he be redy * whan the Justice sitte, 
Thou schalt here the luggement * for al 

thy grete witte.' 750 

* I graunte wel,' seide sir Ote ' ' that it so 

be. 
Let dehver him anon • and talc him to 

me.' 
Tho was Gamelyn delivered • to sire Ote 

his brother, 
And that night dwellede * that on with 

that other. 
On the morn seyde Gamelyn • to sire Ote 

the hende, 755 

' Brother,' he seide, * I moot • for sothe, 

from thee wende, 
To loke how my yonge men • leden here 

lyf, 

Whether they liven in loye • or elles in 
stryf.' 

* By god ! ' seyde sire Ote * * that is a cold 

reed, 
Now I see that al the cark • schal fallen 

on myn heed; 760 

For when the lustice sitte • and thou be 

nought y-founde, 
I schal anon be take " and in thy stede 

y-bounde.' 

* Brother,' sayde Gamelyn • * dismaye thee 

nought. 
For by seint lame in Gales • that many 

man hath sought, 
If that god almighty ' holde my lyf and 

wit, 765 

I wil be ther redy * whan the lustice sit.' 
Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn • * god 

schilde thee fro schame; 
Com whan thou seest tyme • and bring us 

out of blame.' 
Litheth, and lesteneth * and holdeth 

you stille, 
And ye schul here how Gamelyn • hadde 

al his wille. 770 

Gamelyn wente ayein • under woode-rys. 
And fond there pleying • yonge men of 

prys. 



Tho was yong Gamelyn • glad and blithe 

y-nough, 
Whan he fond his mery men • under j 

woode-bough. 
Gamelyn and his men • talkeden in- 

feere, 775 

And they hadde good game • here maister 

to heere; 
They tolden him of aventures * that they 

hadde founde, 
And Gamelyn hem tolde ayein • how he 

was fast y-bounde. 
Whyl Gamelyn was outlawed ' hadde he 

no cors; 
There was no man that for him * ferde 

the wors, 780 

But abbotes and priours • monk and 

chanoun; 
On hem left he no-thing • whan he mighte 

hem nom. 
Whyl Gamelyn and his men • made 

merthes ryve, 
The false knight his brother • yvel mot he 

thryve ! 
For he was fast aboute ' bothe day and 

other, 785 

For to hyre the quest • to hangen his 

brother. J 

Gamelyn stood on a day ■ and, as he bi- 1 

heeld _ * 

The woodes and the schawes • in the 

wilde feeld, 
He thoughte on his brother • how he him 

beheet 
That he wolde be redy • whan the lustice 

seet; 790 

He thoughte wel that he wolde • withoute 

delay, 
Come afore the lustice * to kepen his 

day. 
And seide to his yonge men ' * dighteth 

you yare, 
For whan the lustice sitte • we moote be 

thare, 
For I am under borwe • til that I come, 
And my brother for me • to prisoun schal 

be nome.' 796 

* By seint lame ! ' seyde his yonge men * 

' and thou rede therto, 
Ordeyne how it schal be • and it schal be 

do.' 
Whyl Gamelyn was coming • ther the 

lustice sat, 



800-854-] 



THE TALE OF GAMELYN. 



329 



The false knight his brother * foryat he 

nat that, 800 

To huyre the men on his quest * to 

hangen his brother; 
Though he hadde nough that oon • he 

wolde have that other. 
Tho cam Gamelyn • fro under woode-rys, 
And broughte with him • his yonge men 

of prys. 
* I see wel,' seyde Gamelyn • ' the 

Justice is set; 805 

Go aforn, Adam • and loke how it spet.' 
Adam wente into the halle • and loked al 

aboute, 
He seyh there stonde • lordes grete and 

stoute, 
And sir Ote his brother • fetered wel 

fast; 
Tho went Adam out of halle * as he were 

agast. 810 

Adam said to Gamelyn • and to his felawes 

alle, 

* Sir Ote stant y-fetered ' in the moot- 

halle.' 

* Yonge men,' seide Gamelyn •* this ye 

heeren alle; 
Sire Ote stant y-fetered • in the moot- 

halle. 
If god yif us grace • wel for to doo, 815 
He schal it abegge'that broughte him 

ther-too.' 
Thanne sayde Adam • that lokkes hadde 

hore, 
'Cristes curs mote he have • that him 

bond so sore ! 
And thou wilt, Gamelyn * do . after my 

reed, 
Ther is noon in the halle • schal bere 

awey his heed.' 820 

* Adam,' seyde Gamelyn • * we wiln nought 

don so, 
We wil slee the giltif * and lat the other 

I wil into the halle * and with the Justice 

speke; 
On hem that ben gultif • I wil ben 

awreke. 
Lat non scape at the dore • take, yonge 

men, yeme; 825 

For I wil be Justice this day • domes for 

to deme. 
God spede me this day • at my newe 

werk! 



Adam, com on with me • for thou schalt 

be my clerk.' 
His men answereden him • and bade him 

doon his best, 
' And if thou to us have neede • thou 

schalt finde us prest; 830 

We wiln stande with thee • whyl that we 

may dure, 
And but we werke manly • pay us non 

hure.' 

* Yonge men,' seyde Gamelyn • ' so mot I 

wel thee ! 
As trusty a maister • ye schal finde of 

me.' 
Right there the Justice • sat in the 

halle, 835 

Jn wente Gamelyn • amonges hem 

alle. 
Gamelyn leet unfetere * his brother out 

of bende. 
Thanne seyde sire Ote • his brother that 

was hende, 
' Thou haddest almost, Gamelyn • dwelled 

to longe, 
For the quest is oute on me • that I 

schulde honge,' 840 

* Brother,' seyde Gamelyn • ' so god yif 

me good rest ! 
This day they schuln ben hanged • that 

ben on thy quest; 
And the Justice bothe • that is the lugge- 

man. 
And the scherreve bothe • thurgh him it 

bigan.' 
Thanne seyde Gamelyn • to the Jus- 

tise, 845 

' Now is thy power y-don • thou most 

nedes arise; 
Thow hast yeven domes • that ben yvel 

dight, ^ 
I wil sitten in thy sete • and dressen hem 

aright.' 
The Justice sat stille • and roos nought 

anoon ; 
And Gamelyn cleved • [a-two] his cheeke- 

boon; 850 

Gamelyn took him in his arm • and no 

more spak, 
But threw him over the barre • and his 

arm to-brak. 
Durste non to Gamelyn • seye but good. 
For ferd of the company • that withoute 

stood. 



330 



THE CANTERBURY TALES. 



[855-90Z 



Gamelyn sette him doun • in the Justices 

seet, 855 

And sire Ote his brother by him ' and 

Adam at his feet. 
Whan Gamelyn was y-set • in the Justices 

stede, 
Herkneth of a bourde • that Gamelyn 

dede. 
He leet fetre the lustice * and his false 

brother, 
And dede hem come to the barre • that 

oon with that other. 860 

Tho Gamelyn hadde thus y-doon • hadde 

he no reste, 
Til he had enquered ' who was on the 

queste 
For to deme his brother • sir Ote, for to 

honge; 
Er he wiste which they were • him 

thoughte ful longe. 
But as sone as Gamelyn • wiste wher they 

were, 865 

He dede hem everichone • feteren in- 

feere, 
And bringen hem to the barre * and sette 

hem in rewe; 

* By my faith ! ' seyde the lustice ' * the 

scherreve is a schrewe ! ' 
Than seyde Gamelyn • to the lustise, 
•Thou hast y-yeve domes • of the wors 

assise; 870 

And the twelve sisours * that weren of 

the queste, 
They schul ben hanged this day * so have 

I good reste ! ' 
Thanne seide the scherreve • to yonge 

Gamelyn, 

* Lord, I crye the mercy • brother art 

thou myn.' 
•Therfore,' seyde Gamelyn •* have thou 

Cristes curs, 875 

For, and thou were maister ' yit I schulde 

have wors.' 
For to make short tale • and nought to 

tarie longe, 
He ordeyned him a queste ' of his men 

so stronge; 



The lustice and the scherreve * bothe 

honged hye, 
To weyven with the ropes • and with the 

winde drye; 880 

And the twelve sisours • (sorwe have that 

rekke ! ) 
Alle they were hanged • faste by the 

nekke. 
Thus ended the false knight • with his 

treccherye, 
That ever hadde y-lad his lyf ' in falsnes 

and folye. 
He was Jaanged by the nekke • and nought 

by the purs; 885 

That was the meede that he hadde * for 

his fadres curs. 
Sire Ote was eldest * and Gamelyn was 

ying, 
They wenten with here ' frendes even to 

the king; 
They made pees with the king • of the 

best assise. 
The king loved wel sir Ote • and made 

him lustise. 890 

And after, the king made Gamelyn • 

bothe in est and west. 
Chief lustice ' of al his free forest; 
Alle his wighte yonge men ' the king 

foryaf here gilt. 
And sitthen in good office 'the king hem 

hath y-pilt. 
Thus won Gamelyn • his lond and his 

leede, 895 

And wrak him of his enemys • and quitte 

hem here meede; 
And sire Ote his brother * made him his 

heir, 
And siththen wedded Gamelyn "a wyf 

bothe good and feyr; 
They liveden to-gidere • whyl that Crist 

wolde. 
And sithen was Gamelyn * graven under 

molde. 900 

And so schal ve alle • may ther no man 

flee: 
God bringe us to the loye ' that ever 

schal be ! 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX, 



The Tales are referred to by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, the various groups into which 
the Tales are divided. Thus, C 8 indicates Group C, line 8. 

Abbreviations. — The grammatical abbreviations s., adj., and adv., for substantive, adjective, 
and adverb, will be readily understood. Special abbreviations are v., verb in the infinitive; /r. j, 
(and//, s.) mean the third person singular of the present (and past) tense, except when i or 2 (first 
person or second person) is prefixed ; pr. pi. (and//.//.) mean likewise the third person plural of 
the present (and past) tense ; imp. s. means second person singular of the imperative mood; and 
imp. pi. second person plural of the same. 



k, art. 2i\ «/«, the whole of a, E 1 165. 

A, prep, on, in, for; a-night, in the night, by 
night, G 880; now a dayes, now in these days, 
E 1164; a-morive, A 822; a Goddes name, in 
God's name, A 854. 

Abak, adv. backwards, B 2017. 

Abasshed,//. ashamed, disconcerted, B 568. 

Abayst, Abaysed, pp. abashed, disconcerted, 
E 317; amazed, E 1108. 

Abbay, .y. abbey, B 1814. 

Abegge, V. atone for, A 3938. 

Abhominaciouns, s. pi. abominations, horrible 
occurrences, B 88. 

Abit, pr. s. {for abideth), abides, G 1175. 

Able, adj. fit, capable, adapted, A 167. 

Ablucions, s. pi. ablutions, washings, G 856. 

Aboght. See Abye. 

Abood, s. abiding, delay, A 965. 

Abouten, prep, about, around, near, E 1106. 

Aboven,/r^/. above, E 826. 

Abrayde. See Abreyde. 

Abreyde,//. s. started, awoke, E 1061. 

Abroche, v. broach, D 177. 

Abrood, adv. abroad, i.e. wide open, F 441. 

Abusioun, i-. deceit, B 214. 

Abyde, v. to remain, wait, E 1106; Abydeth, inip. 
pi. B 1T75; Abyding, /r. //. awaiting, E 757. 

Abye, v. pay for, C 756; Aboght,//. redeemed, 
atoned for, C 503. 

Accident, j. unusual appearance, E 607; out- 
ward appearance, C 539. 

Accidie, j. moral sloth, I 677. 

Accordaunt, adj. agreeable to, A 37. 

Accorde, pr. s. snbj. may agree, G 638. 

Achat, s. buying, A 571. 



Achatours, .y. buyers, A 568. 

Acorden, /r. //. agree, B 2137; Acording, /r. 

//. agreeing, B 1737. See Accorde. 
Acounte, v. consider, B 3591. 
Acquyte, v. acquit one's self, E 936; Acquiteth, 

imp. pi. B 37. 
Acustomaunce, s. system of habits, habitual 

method of life; had of actistomaunce, was 

accustomed, B 3701. 
Adamant, s. ironstone, A 1990. 
Adoun, adv. at the bottom, G 779; down, B 

3630- 
Advertence, j. attention, G 467. 
Aferd, //. afraid, A 628. 
Affeccioun, .y. desire, A 1158. 
Affray, s. fear, terror, B 1137. 
Affyle, V. polish, A 712. 

After, prep, in expectation of, for, B 467; af- 
ter me, according to my command, E 327; 

after the yeer, according to the time of year, 

F47. 
Agayn, /r^/. against, B 580; near, G 1279; to 

meet, B 391 ; Ageyn, against, F 142. 
Agayns, prep, towards, to meet, E 911; before, 

in presence of, C 743. 
Agaynward, adv. back again, B 441. 
Ages, //. times, periods, B 3177. 
Aggreggeth, v. aggravates, B 2477; Agreg- 

geden,//. aggravated, B 2209. 
Agoon, //. passed away, dead, E 631; Agon, 

//. gone away, C 810; Agoon, //. as adv. 

ago, C 436. 
Agreved, //. aggrieved, E 500. 
Agrief , adv. sorrowfully, B 4083. 
Aken, pr. pi. ache, B 21 13. 
Aketoun, i-. a short sleeveless tunic, worn under 

the hauberk, B 2050. 



Zl^ 



332 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Al, adv. completely, B 3215; al blood, com- 
pletely covered with blood, B 1967. 
Al, adj. all; al a, the whole of, G 996; at al, in 

every respect, E 1222; wholly, C 633; Alle, 
//. B 118; alle and sotne, one and all, E 941. 
Al, conj. whether, G 846; although, E 99; al so^ 

as, H 80. 
AlauntS, i'. boarhounds, A 2148. 
Alayes, s. pi. alloy, E 1167. 
Albificacioun, j. albification, whitening, G 805. 
Alday, adv. continually, F 481; always, B 1702. 
Ale and breed, drink and meat, B 2062. 
Alembykes, //. alembics, G 794. 
Alestake, 5-. a stake projecting from an ale- 
house by way of a sign, A 667. 
Aley, s. an alley, B 1758. 
Algate, adv. at any rate, C 292 ; G 318; in all 

respects, E 855. 
AlgateS, adv. at any rate, in every way, wholly, 

F 246; nevertheless, all the same, at any rate, 

B 520; G 1096. 
Alkamistre. s. alchemist, G 1204. 
Aller, gen. pi. 0/ AX, A 823. 
AUiaunce, s. marriage, espousal, E 357. 
Allow, I pr. s. I approve, I applaud, F 676. 
Allye, s. relative, B 3593. 
Almesse, s. alms, B 168. 
Almest, adv. almost, B 1948. 
Al-SO, conj. as, B 396; H 80. 
Alswa, adv. also, A 4085. 
Alwey, ad7f. continually, always, E 458; 

ceaselessly, F 422; I 11. 
Am, it avi I, it is I, B 1109. 
Amadrides, s. pi. hamadryads, A 2928. 
Amalgaming, s. the formation of an amalgam, 

G 771. 
Amased, //. amazed, G 935. 
Ambel, s. amble; an ambel, in an amble, at an 

ambling pace, B 2075. 
Ambes as, double aces, B 124. 
Amblere, j. easy-paced horse, A 469. 
Amende, v. to improve, F 197; Amended, //. 

surpassed, B 3444. 
Amenuse, v. diminish, I 360; depreciate, I 496. 
Amerciments, s.pl. fines, I 752. 
Ameved,//. s. moved, changed; nonghtatneved, 

changed not, altered not, E 498; Amoeved,//. 

perturbed, I 670. 
Amidde, prep, amid, in the midst of, F 409. 
Amis, adv. wrongly, B 3370. 
Amonesten, v. warn, admonish, I 76. 
AmongeS, prep, amongst, B 3344; G 608. 
Amounteth, /r. s. means, B 569; amounts to, 

F 108. 
Amy, s. friend, C 318. 
An, a; an eighte busshels, a quantity equal to 

eight bushels, C 771. 
And, C071J if, E 2433. 



Anhanged, //. hung, B 3945, 3949. 
Anientissed, //. annihilated, B 2438 
A-night, adv. by night, at night, E 464 
Anlas, J. dagger, A 357. 
Annexed, //. attached, C 482. 
Annueleer, s. a priest who received annuil pay- 
ments, a chaplain, G 1012. 
Annunciat, //. pre-announced, i.e whose birth 

was foretold, B 3205. 
Anon, adv. immediately, forthwith, B 34, 326; 

C8&4. 
Anon-right, adv. immediately, G 1141. 
Anoyeth, pr. s. impers. it annoys, vexes, G 

1036. 
Answerde,/^. j. answered, E 21. 
Antem, jt. anthem, B 1850. 
Antiphoner, j. anthem-book, B 1709. 
Aornement, j. adornment, I 432. 
Apalled. See Appalled. 
Aparaile . See Apparaile . 
Aparceyve . See Aperceyre. 
Apayd, Apayed, //. pleased, satisfied; evel 

apayd, ill-pleased, G 921. 
Apayre. See Apeyren. 
Apayse. See Apese. 
Ape, J. dupe, G 1313. 
Apeiren. See Apeyren. 
Aperceyve, v. to perceive, E 600; Aperceyveth, 

pr. s. E 1018. 
Aperceyvinges, pi. perceptions, observations, 

F 286. 
Apert, Aperte, adv. openly, F 531. 
Apertenant, adj. belonging to, such as belongs 

to; Apertenaunt, B 3505. 
Apertenen, v. belong to, I 410. 
Apertening, pr. pt. appertaining, G 785. 
Apertinent, adj. appertaining, suitable, E loio. 
Apertly, adv. openly, clearly, I 294. 
Apese, Apeise, v. appease, pacify, E 433; H 98. 
Apeyren, v. impair, depreciate, I 1078; A 3147. 
Apeyse. See Apese. 
Aposed. See Apposed. 
Apostelles, ,y. //. apostles, G 1002. 
Appalled, //. made pale or feeble, F 365; B 1292. 
Apparaile, j. apparel, attire, E 1208. 
Apparence, s. appearance, seeming, F 218. 

Appese. See Apese. 

Apposed, //. .y. questioned, G 363. 
Appreved, //. approved, E 1349. 
Approwours, s.pl. informers, D 1343. 
Apyked, //. trimmed, A 365. 
Arace, v. eradicate, tear away, E 1103. 
Aray, s. order, E 262; ordinance. E 670. 
Arayed, //. dressed, F 389; arranged, ordered, 

B 252. 
Arches. See Ark. 
Archewyves, s. pi. archwives, ruling wives, E 

"95. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



333 



Arest, s. socket of a spear, A 2602. 

Arette, v. account, attribute, A 726; Aretted, 
//. A 2729. 

Arewe, adv. in a row, D 1254. 

Argoile, j. potter's clay, G 813. 

Argumenten, /r. //. argue, B 212. 

Aright, adzi. rightly, properly, F 694. 

Arist, pr. s. arises, B 265. 

Ark, i-. arc, referring to the arc of the horizon 
extending from sunrise to sunset, B 2. 

Arminge, i-. arming, putting on of armor, B 2037. 

Armipotente, adj. mighty in arms, A 2441. 

Armlees, adj. armless, without an arm, B 3393. 

Armoniak, adj. ammoniac; applied to 6o^e, G 
790, and sal, G 798. 

Armoure, Armure, s. armor, B 2009. 

Am, /r. pL are, E 342. 

Arrace. SeeArace. 

Array, Arraye. See Aray, Arayed. 

Arrette. See Arette. 

Ars-metrik, s. arithmetic, A 1898. 

Art, ,y. kind, sort, E 1241. 

ArweS, //. arrows, A 107. 

As, like, B 1864; expletive, expressing a wish; as 
/lave, may He have, B 1061 ; as lat, pray let, 
B 859; as after, according to, B 3555; as in, 
i.e. for, B 3688; as now, at this time, F 652; on 
the present occasion, G 944; for the present, 
with the matter on hand, G 1019; as to, with 
reference to, F 107; as soon as, F 615; as fer- 
forth as, as far as, B 19. As is short for Also. 

As, s. an ace, B 3851; ambes as, double aces, B 
124. 

Asay. See Assay. 

Ascaunce, adv. perhaps, G 838. 

Ascencioun, j-. ascension, rising up, G 778. 

Ascende, v. ascend, rise (a term in astrology), 
I 11; pr.pt. ascending, in the ascendant, i.e. 
near the eastern horizon, F 264. 

Ascendent, s. ascendant, A 417. The ascend- 
ent is (properly) that point of the zodiacal 
circle which is seen to be just ascending above 
the horizon at a given moment. 

Asken, v. to ask, B loi. 

Aslake, V. abate, A 3553; //. A 1760. 

Asonder, adv. asunder, apart, B 1157. 

Asp, ,y. aspen, A 2921. 

Aspye, J. spy, C 755. 

Assaille, v. to assail, attack, B 3953. 

Assay, s. trial, D 290; Assayes,//. trials, E697. 

Assaye, itnp. s. let him try, E 1229; Assayed, 
//. tried, E 1054. 

Asseged, //. besieged, A 881. 

Assembled, //. united, G 50. 

Assendent. See Ascendent. 

Assent, s. consent, conspiracy, C 758. 

Assente, v. agree to, A 374; Assenten, pr. pi. 
assent, agree, E 176. 



Assoilen, pr. s. absolve, pardon, C 913. 

Assoiling, s. absolution, A 661. 

Assured, pt. s. confirmed, B 3378. 

Assyse, ,y. assize, A 314. 

Asterted, pt. s. escaped, B 437. 

Astonied, //. j. astonished, E 316. 

Astored, pp. stored, provided, A 609. 

Astromye, s. astronomy, A 3451. 

Asure, azure, blue, E 254. 

Aswage, V. to assuage, B 3834. 

Aswowne, in a swoon, E 1079. 

hX, prep, at; at tne, with me, with respect to 
me, B 1975; from, E 653; from, of, G 542, 621. 

At-after, prep, after, F 302. 

Atake, V. to overtake, G 556. 

Atazir, ,y. evil influence, B 305. 

Atones, adv. at once, at one and the same 
time, B 670. 

Atoon, adv. at one, E 437. 

At-rede, v. outwit, surpass in advice, A 2449. 

At-renne, v. outrun, A 2449. 

Attamed, pp. broached, B 4008. 

Atte; atte /idle, at the full, in completeness, 
B 203; atte laste, at the last, B 506; atteleste, 
at the least, at least, E 130. 

Atteyne, v. to attain, E 447. 

Attry, adj. venomous, I 583. 

Atwinne, adv. apart, G 1170. 

A-two, adv. in two, asunder, B 600. 

Auctor. See Auctour. 

Auctoritee, i-. authority, especially of an es- 
teemed writer, D i. 

Auctour, s. author, E 1141. 

Audience, ,y. audience, B 3991; hearing, E 329. 

Aught, adj'. by any chance, in any way, B 
1034; at all, G 597. 

Augrim stones, arithmetical counters, A 3210. 

Auntred, pt. s. adventured, A 4205. 

Auntrous, adj'. adventurous, B 2099. 

Autour. See Auctour. 

Avale, V. doff, A 3122. 

Avantage, j. convenience, profit; to don his 
ava}ttage,.to suit his own interests, B 729; as 
adj. advantageous, B 146. 

Avaunce, v. profit, A 246; Avaunced, //. ad- 
vanced, C 410. 

Avaunt, j. vaunt, boast, A 227. 

Aventure, s. peril, B 1151; Aventures, //. ad- 
ventures, E 15; accidents, C 934. 

Avys, J. opinion, I 54. 

Avyse, v. refl. consider, B 664. 

Await, s. watch, H 149; have hir in awayt, 
watch her, B 3915. 

Awaiteth, pr. s. waits, watches, B 1776. 

Awaytes. See Await. 

Awen, adj'. own, A 4239. 

Aweye, adv. away, gone; from home, B 593; 
astray, B 609. 



334 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Awroken, i>p. avenge, A 3752, 
Ayeins, prep, against, E 320. 
Ayel, s. grandfather, A 2477. 

B. 

Ba, imp. s. kiss, A 3709. 
Bachelrye, s. company of young men, E 270. 
Bad, pt. s. bade, E 373. See Bidde. 
Badde, adj. bad; Badder, F 224. 

Bak, J. cloth for the back, coarse mantle, cloak, 

G881. 
Bake, //. baked, B 95. 

Balkes, s.pL beams; the transverse beams be- 
neath the roof, A 3626. 

Balled, adj. bald, A 198. 

Banes, pL bones, A 4073. 

Bar. See Bere. 

Barbre, adj. barbarian, B 281. 

Bareyne, adj. barren, B 68; E 448. 

Barm-Clooth, j. apron, A 3236. 

Barme, s. dat. bosom, lap, B 3256, 3630. 

Baronage, j. company of barons, retinue of 
lords, B 329. 

Barres, s.pl. cross-stripes, A 329. 

Barringe, ^. cross-striping, I 417. 

BasiliCOk, ^. basilisk, I 853. 

Bataille, j. battle, B 3879; G 386. 

Batailled, //. battlemented, indented, B 4050. 

Bathe, adj. both, A 4087. 

Bauderie, s. gayety, A 1926. 

Baudy, adj. dirty, G 635. 

Bawdrik, s. baldrick, belt, A 116. 

Bayard, a horse's name, G 1413. 

Bayte, v. to bait, feed, eat, B 466; Baiteth, pr. 
s. feeds, B 2103. 

Bechen, adj. made of beech, G 1160. 

Bed, J. station, B 3862. 

Bede, v. offer, proffer, G 1065; i pt.pl. directed, 
I 65. Pt. pi. and pp. of Bidde. See Bidde. 

Bedes, //. beads, A 159. 

Bedrede, adj. bedridden, E 1292. 

Beek, J. beak, F 418. 

Been, //. bees, F 204. 

Beest, .y. beast, F 460; beest roial, royal beast, 
i.e. Leo, F 264. 

Beggestere, j. beggar (female beggar), A 242. 

Bekke, \pr. s. I nod, C 396. 

Bel amy, i.e. good friend, fair friend, C 318. 

Bely, s. bellows, I 351. 

Bely-naked, adj. stark naked, E 1326. 

BemeS, s. pi. trumpets, B 4588. 

Ben, Been, v. be; Beth, imp.pl. be ye, C 683. 

Bendinge, j. slant-striping, I 417. 

Bene, .y. bean, B 94. 

Benedicite, bless ye, B 1170. 

Bent, s. grassy slope; Bente, dat. A 1981. 

Berafte. See Bireve. 



Berd, J. beard, A 332; make a herd, outwit, , 
A 4096. 

Bere, v. bear, carry, B 3564; transport, F 119; 
to carry about, F 148; Bereth, pr. s. B 2091; 
Berth, sickly berth, take with ill will, dislike, 
E 625; berth hir on hand, bears false witness s 
against her, B 620; Ber,/^. s. bore, B 722. 

Bereve. See Bireve. 

Berie, v. bury, C 884. 

Beringe, s. bearing, behavior, B 2022. 

Berm, s. barm, i.e. yeast, G 813. 

Bern, Berne, ^. barn, B 3759; C 397. 

Besy. See Bisy. 

Bete, pp. beaten; Beten, B 1732. 

Bete, V. kindle, A 2253; Betten, //. //. kindled, , 
G518. 

Beth, pr. pi. are, B 2350. 

Beye, v. buy, C 845. 

Bibbed, pp. drunk, A 4162. 

Bible, s. book, G 857. 

Bi-bledde, //. bloodied, A 2002. 

Bicched bones, s. pi. dice, C 656. 

Bi-Clappe, ger. to clasp, ensnare, G 9. 

Bidafied, //. befooled, E 1191. 

Bidde, v. to bid, F 327; //. bidden, commanded, 
B 440. 

Biddinge, pr.pt. praying, G 140. 

Biden,//. ^Byde. 

Bifalle, pr. s. snbj. may befall, I 68; //. be- 
fallen, B 726; Bifalleth, /r. s. happens, E 449; 
Bifel, pt. s. it came to pass, F 42; Bifil, B 
3613; Bifelle,/2?. s. stibj. were to befall, E 136. 

Biforn, adv. before, B 704; before, in anticipa- 
tion, B 1668; beforehand, B 1184; of old time, 
F 551 ; Bifore, first, E 446. 

Biforn, prep, before, B 997; C 665; in front of, 
G 680; Biforen, B 3553, 

Biforn-hond, adv. beforehand, G 1317. 

Bigan, /A s. began, B 98, 1883. 

Bigyle, v. to beguile, deceive, E 252. 

BigylereS, //. beguilers, I 299. 

Biheste, s. promise, B 37; F 698. 

Bihete, v. promise; i pr. s. I promise, G 707. 
See Bihote. 

Biholde, //. beheld, G 179. 

Bihote, V. promise, A 1854. 

Bijaped, //. tricked, A 1585. 

Biknowe, v. acknowledge, B 886. 

Bile, J. beak, B 4051. 

Bileve, s. belief, faith, G 63. 

Bileve, v. to remain, stay behind, F 583. 

Bileveth, i7np. pi. believe ye, G 1047. 

Biraft. See Bireve. 

Bireve, t^. bereave, B 3359; take away, G 482; 

Birafte, pt. s. bereft, took away, B 3386. 
Biseged, //, besieged, B 3514. 
Biseke, v. beseech, B 3174; Bisekinge, beseech- 
ing, E 178, 592. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



335 



Bisemare, j. abusiveness, A 3965. 

Bisette,//. ^. employed, A 279. 

Biseye, //. displayed, made apparent; yvel 

biseye, ill-looking, E 965 ; richely biseye, rich- 
looking, splendid, E 984. 
Bisie, V. to trouble, busy; bisie me, employ 

myself, G 758. 
Bisily, adv. busily, F 88. 
Bisinesse, J. diligence, E 1008; busy endeavor, 

G 24; Bisynesse, F 642. See Businesse. 
Bismotered,//. soiled, A 76. 
Bistad, pp. hard bestead, greatly imperilled, B 

649. 
Bistrood,//. s. bestrode, B 2093. 
Bisy, adj. busy, attentive, F 509. 
Bisyde, /r^/. beside, E 777, 1105; F 374. 
Bit,/r. s. bids, F 291. 
Bitake, i pr, s. commend, commit, E 161; 

Bitook, pt. s. delivered, gave, committed (to 

the charge of), G 541. 
Biteche,/r. s. commit to, B 2114. 
Bitid, //. befallen, B 1949. See Bityde. 
Bitokneth, pr. s. betokens, signifies, B 3942. 
Bitook. See Bitake. 
Bitore, .y. bittern, D 972. 
Bitrayed,//. betrayed, B 3570. 
Bitwixen, prep, between, C 832; Bitwixe, B 

3830; Bitwix, F 317. 
Bityde, f. befall, E 79; happen, arrive, B 3730; 

pr. s. subj. may betide, E 306; bityde what 

bityde, let that happen that may, whatever may 

happen, B 2064. 
Bitymes, adv. betimes, soon, G 1008. 
Biwailen, v. to bewail, lament, B 26; Biwaille, 

B 3952; Biwailled, //. E 530. 
Biwreye, v. to bewray, unfold, reveal, B 3219; 

Biwreyen, betray, G 150; Biwreyest, dis- 

closest, B 773. 
Bladdre, j. bladder, G 439. 
Blake, adj. pi. black, G 557. 
Blakeberied, a, a-blackberrying, i.e. a-wander- 

ing at will, astray, C 406. 
Blaked,//. blackened, rendered black, B 3321. 
Blankmanger, j. blanc-mange, A 387. 
Blere, v. blind, A 4049. 
Blered, adj. bleared, G 730. 
Blesseth hit, pr. s. crosses herself, B 449. 
Blinne, v. stop, cease, G 11 71. 
Blisful, adj. blessed, B 845; happy, merry, E 

844, 1121. 
Blisse, V. bless, E 553. 
Blondren. See Blundreth. 
Blood, s. progeny, offspring, E 632. 
Blowe, //. blown, filled out with wind, G 

440. 
Blundreth, pr. s. runs heedlessly, G 1414; 

Blondren, 1 pr. pi. we fall into confusion, we 

confuse ourselves, become mazed, G 670. 



Blynde with, gcr. to blind (the priest) with, 
G1151. 

Bobance, j. presumption, boast, D 569. 

Bocher, j-. butcher, A 2025. 

Boden,//. <^ Bede. 

Body, s. principal subject, E 42; my body, my- 
self, B 1 185; //. metallic bodies (metals), 
answering to celestial bodies (planets), G 820. 

Boes, pr. s. it behooves, A 4027. 

Boist, s. box, C 307. 

Boistous, adj. rough, H 211. 

Boistously, adv. loudly, E 791. 

Bokeler, s. buckler, A 112, 3266. 

Bokes,//. books, B 3499. 

Boket, s. bucket, A 1533. 

Bole armoniak, Armenian clay, G 790. 

Bolle, J. a bowl, G 1210. 

Bond, s. a band, F 131. 

Boon, .y. bone, B 3090. 

Boor, .y. boar, B 3299. 

Boost, J. boast, pride, B 3289. See Bost. 

Boot,//*, s. bit, B 3791. 

Boot, s. boat, E 1424. 

Boras, .?. borax, A 630; G 790. 

Bord, s. table, B 430; board, i.e. meals, G 1017. 

Bordels, s. pi. brothels, I 885. 

Bore, //. born, E 401; borne, carried, F 178; 
Born, borne, E 444; carried, F 176; worn, F 43. 

Bore, Boren, //. of Bere. 

Borel, adj. coarse, common, B 3145. 

Bores. See Boor. 

Borwe, v. borrow, B 105. 

Bost, s. pride, swelling, G 441. See Boost. 

Bote, s. safety, salvation, B 1656; relief, G 
1481. 

Botel, s. bottle (of hay), H 14. 

Boterflye, .y. butterfly, B 3980. 

Botme, i-. dat. bottom, G 1321. 

Bought, Bough te, pt. s. bought; bojighte 
agayn, redeemed, C 766. 

Bouk, .y. body, A 2746. 

Bour, s. inner room, B 4022. 

Bourde, .r. jest, H 81. 

Boydekins, s. pi. poniards, lit. bodkins, B 3892. 

Bracer, s. arm-guard, A in. 

Bragot, J. ale and mead, A 3261. 

Brak, pt. s. broke, B 288. Ft. t. of Breken. 

Branched, adj. full of branches, F 159. 

Brast, Braste. See Breste. 

Braun, s. muscle, A 546. 

Brayde. See Breyde. 

Brede, s. breadth, B 3350. 

Breech, .y. breeches, B 2049; C 948. 

Breed, .y. bread, B 3624; F 614. 

Breke, v. break, C 936; breke his day, fail to 
pay at the appointed time, G 1040; Breke, 
itnp. s. interrupt, I 24. 

Breme, adv. fierce, A 1699. 



336 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Bren, s. bran, A 4053. 

Brest, s. breast, E 617. 

Breste, v. burst, break, E 1169; Braste, //. 

B671. 
Bret-ful, adj. brimful, A 687. 
Bretheihed, ^. brotherhood, religious order, A 

511- 
Brew, /^. s. brewed, contrived, B 3575. 
Breyde, v. start suddenly, awake, F 477; pi. s. 

started, went (out of his wits), B 3728; drew, 

B837. 
Brige, s. quarrel, B 2870. 
Brighte, adv. brightly, B 11, 2034. 
Brike, i-. a perilous state, ruin, downfall, B 3580. 
Bringen, 7/. bring, B 3623. 
Brocage, s. brokery, jobbery, A 3375. 
Brode, adj. pi. broad, thick, B 3448. See BrOOd. 
Brode, adv. broadly; wide awake, G 1420. 
Broken. See Breke. 
Brokkinge, pr. pi. warbling, A 3377. 
Brond, j. firebrand, B 3224; Bronde, dat. a 

piece of hot metal on the anvil, B 2095. 
Brood, adj. broad, thick, large, F 82. See 

Brode. 
Brosten. See Breste. 
Brouded, //. embroidered, B 3659. 
Brouke, z'. enjoy, use, B 4490. 
Browdinge, s. embroidery, A 2498. 
Bryberyes, s. pi. rascalities, D 1367. 
Brydel, j. bridle, F 340. 
Buk, s. buck; Bukke, B 1946; blozv the bukkes 

horti, have trouble for nothing, A 3387. 
BuUe, J. papal bull, C 909. 
Bulte, V. sift, B 4430; pi. s. built, A 1548. 
Burdoun, .y. bass, A 673. 
Burel, adj. coarse, common, D 1872. 
Buriels, s. pi. burial-places, i.e. the catacombs, 

G 186. 
Businesse, s. business, industry, G 5. See 

Bisinesse. 
Busk, J. bush,//. A 1579. 
Buxom, adj. obedient, B 1432. 
Buxomly, adv. obediently, E 186. 
By, V. to buy; go by, go to buy, G 1294. See 

Beye. 

By and by, adv. side by side, in order, A ion. 
Byte, V. bite, B 3634; to sting, F 513; to cut 
deeply, F 158. 



C. 



Cacche, v. catch, G n. 
Cake, .r. loaf, C 322. 
Calcening, j. calcination, G 771. 
Calcinacioun, j. calcination, G 804. 
Calle, .y. head-dress, D 1018. 
Cam, pi. s. came, F 81. 
Camaille, .y. camel, E 1 196. 



Camuse, adj flat, A 3934. 

Canevas, s. canvas, G 939. 

Canon, j. the " Canon," the title of a book by 
Avicenna, C 890. 

Canstow,/tfr Canst thou, B 632. 

Cantel, j. portion, A 3008. 

Capel, 5-. horse, nag, H 64. 

Capitayn, s. captain, C 582. 

Cardiacle, s. pain about the heart, C 313. 

Care, j. anxiety, trouble, B 514. 

Care, v. feel anxiety, E 1212. 

Carf , pi. s. carved, cut, B 3647. 

Carie, 7'. to carry, E 585; Carien,/r. //. carry, 
B 1814; Carieden, pi. pi. carried, G 1219. 

Carl, .r. churl, country fellow, C 717. 

Carpe, ;:'. chatter, A 194. 

Carrik, j. ship of burden, D 1688. 

Cas, s. case, occasion, B 36; circumstance, state, 
condition, B 123 ; chance, hap, E 316 ; io deyen 
ill the cas, though death were the result, E859. 

Casteth, pr. s. considers, G 1414; rejl. casts 
himself, devotes himself, G 738; Casten, pr. 
pi. cast about, debate, B 212. 

Catel, J. chattels, A 373. 

Caughte, /A s. took, conceived, E 619; Caught, 
//. obtained, E mo. 

Cause, i^. reason, B 252; cause why, the reason 
why is this, E 2435. 

Causen, pr. pi. cause, F 452. 

Caytif , .s. wretch, wretched or unfortunate man, 
B 3269. 

Celerer, s. keeper of a cellar, B 3126. 

Ceptre, .s-. sceptre, B 3334. 

Cored, //. as adj. waxed, G 808. 

Cerial 00k, .s-. holm oak, A 2290. 

Cerimonies, j-. //. ceremonious acts, acts of 
courtship, F 515. 

Ceriously, adv. minutely, with full details, B 
185. 

Certein, adj'. a certain quantity of; ceriein gold, 
a stated sum of money, B 242; certein tresor, 
a quantity of treasure, B 442; Certeyn, a cer- 
tain sum, a fixed quantity, G 776. 

Certes, adv. certainly, G 1478. 

Ceruce, i'. white lead, A 630. 

Cese. See Cesse. 

Cesse, V. cease, B 1066. 

Cetewale, .r. either, (i) zedoary, or (2) the herb 
valerian, B 1951. 

Ceynt, .y. girdle, A 3235. 

Chaffare, s. merchandise; he7ice, matter, sub- 
ject, E 2438. 

Chaffare, ger. to trade, barter, deal, traffic, B 

139- 
Chalk-stoon, j. a piece of chalk, G 1207. 
Chalons, j. coverlets from Chalons, A 4140. 
Chamberere, s. maidservant, chambermaid, E 

819. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



337 



Champartye, s. partnership, A 1949. 
Chanon, s. canon, G 573; Chanoiin, G 972. 
Chapeleyne, j. nun who said minor offices, A 

164. 
Chapmanhode, s. trade, barter, B 143. 
Chapmen, s.pl. traders, merchants, B 135. 
Char, s. car, chariot, F 671. 
CharbOCle, s. carbuncle (a precious stone), B 

2061. 
Charge, s. responsibility, E 163; of that no 

charge, for that no matter, it is of no impor- 
tance, G 749. 
Chargeant, adj. burdensome, B 2433. 
Chasted, pp. chastened, taught, F 491. 
Chasteyn, j. chestnut, A 1921. 
Chastyse. See Chasted. 
Chaunce, j. luck. G 593; " chance," a technical 

term in the game of hazard, C 653. 
Chaunge, s. change, exchange, F 535. 
Chaunterie, s. endowment for singing masses 

for the dead, A 510. 
Cheek, s. cheek, i.e. cheekbone, B 3228. 
Chees,/2f. j. chose, B 3706. 
Cheeste, s. strife, I 556. 
Cherche, s. a church, G 546. 
Chere, j. entertainment, B 180; show, E 678; 

kindly expression, E 1112. 
Cherl, s. churl, C 289. 
Cheryce, v. cherish; Cherissheth, imp. pi. 

cherish ye, F 353. 
Chesinge, s. choosing, choice, E 162. 
Cheste, ^. coffin, E 29. 
Chevauchee. See Chivachee. 
Cheve, v.; yvel mote he cheve, ill may he end, 

or ill may he thrive, G 1225. 
Chiertee, j. deamess, B 1526; affection, F 881. 
Chiknes,//. chickens, A 380. 
Child, J. child, a term of address to a young 

man, B 2000. 
Childhede, j. dat. childhood, B 1691. 
Chilindre, j. pocket sun-dial, B 1396. 
Chimbe, s. rim of the barrel, A 3895. 
Chirche, j. church, A 460. 
Chirche-hawes, j. //. churchyards, I 801. 
Chirketh,/r. s. twitters, D 1804. 
Chirking, .y. murmuring, A 2004. 
Chit,/r. J. chides, G 921. 
Chiteren, v. chatter, prattle, G 1397. 
Chivachee, .y. feat of horsemanship, H 50. 
Chivachye, s. expedition, A 85. 
Chivalrye, s. chivalry, company of knights, B 

235; troops of horse, cavalry, B 3871. 
Choys, J. choice, E 170. 
Chyde, v. chide, complain, F 649. 
Ciclatoun, s. a costly kind of thin cloth, B 1924. 
Cink, mivt. cinque, five, C 653. 
Cipres, s. cypress; Ciprees, B 2071. 
Citee, s. city, F 46. 



Citole, .y. stringed instrument of music, A 1959. 
Citrinacioun, j. citronizing, the turning to the 

color of citron, a process in alchemy, G 816. 
Clamb, pt. s. climbed, B 1987. 
Clappe, pr. pi. chatter, prattle, G 965 ; Clappeth, 

imp. pi. make a constant clatter, keep chatter- 
ing, E 1200; pr. s. talks fast, B 3971. 
Clapping, .y. chatter, idle talk, E 999. 
Clarre, Clarree, s. wine mixed with honey and 

spices, and afterwards strained till it was clear, 

A 1471. 
Clause, .y. sentence, B 251. 
Clawe, V. rub, scratch, A 4326; D 940. 
Cleernesse, .y. clearness, brightness, glory, G 

403- 
Clene, adj. clean, pure, unmixed, B 1183. 
Clene, adv. entirely, F 626. 
Clepen, v. call, F 331: Clepeth, /r. s. calls, F 

382; 7ne7i clepe, people call, E 115. 
Clere, adj. clear, bright, E 779. 
Clergeon, j. a chorister-boy. B 1693. 
Clergial, adj. clerkly, learned, G 752. 
Clerk, .y. clerk, learned man, student, E i. 
Clew,/^ t. oiClazveit. 
Cley, .y. clay, G 807. 
Cliket, i-. latch-key, E 2046. 
Clinke, Clinken, v. to ring, sound, clink, tingle, 

B 1 186; C664. 
Clinking, j. tinkling, B 3984. 
Clippe. V. clip, cut, B 3257. 
Clobbed, adj. clubbed, B 3088. 
Cloisterer, s. a cloister-monk, B 3129. 
Clokke, .y. clock; of the clock, by the clock, 

B14. 
Clom, i7iterj. hush, A 3638. 
Clombe. See Clymben. 
CIOOS, adj. close, secret, G 1369. 
Clos, a pen, enclosure, B 4550. 
Clote-leef , s. a leaf of the burdock or clote-bur, 

G 577- 
Clothered,//. clotted, A 2745. 
Clout, .y. a cloth, C 736; Cloutes, //. cloths, 

portions of a garment, rags, C 348. 
Clowe-gilbfre. s. clove, spice, B 1952. 
Clymben, v. to climb, F 106 ; Clymbeth, pr. s. 

B 3966; Clombe,//. B 12; were clombe, hadst 

climbed, B 3592. 
Coagulat, //. coagulated, clotted, G 811. 
Cod, .y. bag, C 534. 
Cofre, .y. coffer, money-box, G 836. 
Coillons,//. testicles, C 952. 
Cokenay, s. milksop, A 4208. 
Cokes, s. pi. cooks, C 538. 
Cokewold, s. cuckold, A 3152. 
Cokkel, J. cockle, i.e. the corn-cockle, B 1183. 
Cokkes, corruption of Goddes, H 9; I 29. 
Col-blak, adj. coal-black, A 2142. 
Colde, V. grow cold, B 870. 



338 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Colerik, adj. choleric, F 51. 

Coles, J. //. coals, G 1 1 14. 

Col-fox, J. brant-fox, B 4405. 

Collacioun, j. conference, E 325. 

Collect, s. table of planetary motions, F 1275. 

Colour, ^. color, outward appearance; Coloures, 
//. colors, pretences (a pun), F 511. 

Colpons,//. shreds, A 679. 

Columbyn, adj. dove-like, E 2141. 

Comandour, j. commander, B 495. 

Combust, pp. burnt up, G 811. 

Come, s. coming, G 343. 

Come, V. come; come thereby, come by it, ac- 
quire it, G 1395; Comth,/r. s. comes, K 407; 
Comen,/;^. come, B 260; ben comen, are come, 
B 1130; Coomen,/^. //. came, B 1805. 

Commune, adj. general, common, B 155; E 431. 

Commune, ^. the commons, E 70. 

Commune, v. commune, converse, G 982. 

Companye, s. company, B 134. 

Compas, J. enclosure, continent; try tie compas, 
the threefold world, containing earth, sea, and 
heaven, G 45. 

Composiciouns, j. //. suitable arrangements, F 
229. 

Comprehende, v. take in (in the mind), F 223. 

Comunly, adv. commonly, E 726. 

Comyn, s. cummin, B 2045. 

Conclude, v. draw a conclusion, B 14; include, 
put together, G 429; attain to a successful re- 
sult, CJ 773. 

Conclusioun, s. result, successful end of an ex- 
periment, G 672; reason, F 492. 

Confiture, s. composition, C 862. 

Confounde, //. overwhelmed, B 100; destroyed 
in soul, G 137. 

Confus, //. as adj. convicted of folly, G 463. 

Conioininge, j. conjunction, G 95. 

Conne, v. con, learn, B 1730; i pr. pi. we can, 
are able, B 483; pr. s. sjibj. he may know; al 
conne he, whether he may know, G 846. 

Conning, adj. skilful, B 3690. 

Conningly, adv. skilfully, E 1017. 

Conseil, s. council, B 204; counsel, B 425. 

ConsiStorie, j-. judgment-seat, C 162. 

Conspiracye, s. plot, B 3889. 

Constable, s. governor, B 512. 

Constablesse, j. constable's wife, B 539. 

Constance, j. constancy, E 668, 1000, 1008. 

Constellacioun, s. constellation, cluster of stars, 
F 129. 

Constreyneth,/r. s. constrain, E 800. 

Contek, j. strife, A 2003. 

Contenance, s. pretence, appearance, G 1264; 
demeanor, E 924; self-possession, E mo. 

Contrarie, adj. contrary, B 3964; in cotitrarie, 
in contradiction, G 1477. 

Contrarien, v. to go contrary to, oppose, F 705. 



Contubernial, j. fellow-soldier, I 760. 

Conveyen, v. convey, introduce, E 55; Con- 
veyed, pt. pi. accompanied, went as convoy, 
E391. 

Coomen, pt. pi. came, B 1805. See Come. 

Coper, s. copper, G 829. 

Coppe, s. cup, A 134. 

Corage, s. courage, B 1970; will, E 907; feel- 
ing, disposition, E 220; 0/ his corage, in his 
disposition, F 22. 

Cordewayne, j. Cordovan leather, B 1922. 

Corfew-tyme, ,y. curfew-time, about 8 P.M., A 

3645- 

Corn, s. grain, C 863; Comes, //. cornfields, 
pieces of standing corn, B 3225. 

Corniculere, s. registrar, secretary, G 369. 

Corny, adj. applied to ale, strong of the corn or 
malt, C 315, 456. 

Corone, 5. crown, garland, E 381. 

Corosif, adj. corrosive, G 853. 

Corouned,//. crowned, B 3555. 

Corps, s. dead body, F 519. 

Corpus, J. body; Corpus Domimis, false Latin 
for corpus Domini, the body of the Lord, B 
1625; Corpus Madriaji, the body of St. Ma- 
thurin, B 3082; Corpus bones, an intentionally 
nonsensical oath, composed of " corpus Dom- 
ini," the Lord's body, and " bones," C 314. 

Correccioun, s. correction, I 60. 

Corrumpable, adj. corruptible, A 3010. 

Corrumped, pt. s. corrupted, I 819. 

Cors, s. corpse, C 665. 

Corve. See Kerve. 

Cost, s. cost, B 3564. 

Costage, J. cost, expense, outlay, E 1126. 

Coste, s. the coast, B 1626. 

Cote, s. a cot, E 398. 

Cote, s. a coat, outer garment, used of a part of 
a woman's apparel, E 913. 

Cote -armour, ,y. coat with armorial bearings, B 
2056. 

Couche, v. to cower, E 1206. 

Countour, s. auditor, A 359. 

Countre-taille, j. counter-tally, E 1190. 

Countrewayte, v. watch against, B 2509. 

Courtepy, s. cape, A 290. . 

Couth, pp. known, E 942. 

Coveityse, j. covetousness, C 424. 

Covenable, adj. suitable, I 80. 

Covent, J. conventual body, the monks compos- 
ing the conventual body, B 1827; convent, G 
1007. 

Coverchiefs, s. pi. kerchiefs, A 453. 

Covered, pt. s. covered, 914. 

Coward, adj. cowardly, B 3100. 

Coy, adj. or adv. quiet, E 2. 

Coyn, s. coin, E 1168. 

Crabbed, adj. shrewish, cross, bitter, E 1203. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



339 



Cracching, s. scratching, A 2834. 

Cradel, s. cradle, G 122. 

Craft, s. skill, way of doing a thing, F 185; se- 
cret power, might, B 3258; subtle contrivance, 
F 249. 

Craftily, adv. cunningly, skilfully, B 48. 

Crafty, adj. skilful, clever, G 1290. 

Craketh, /r. s. sings hoarsely, E 1850. 

erased,//, cracked, G 934. 

Creatour, .s. Creator, C 901. 

Creaunce, j. creed, B 915; Creance, object of 
faith, B 340. 

Creaunce, v. get credit, B 1479; creanced, //. 
raised on credit, B 1556. 

Crede, .y. creed, belief, G 1037. 

Crekes, s. pi. devices, A 4051. 

Crepe, v. creep, B 3627; Crepeth, pr. s. E 

1134- 
Cristal, adj. crystal, C 347. 
Cristemasse, s. Christmas, B 126, 1730. 
Cristen, adj. Christian, B 222. 
Cristendom, s. the Christian religion, B 351; 

Christianity, G 447. 
Cristenly, adv. in a Christian manner, B 1122. 
Cristianitee, s. company of Christians, B 544. 
Cristned, //. baptized, V> ■22.^; G 352. 
Cristofre, j. image of St. Christopher worn as 

an amulet, A 115. 
Crommes, s. pi. crumbs, G 60. 
Crone, s. crone, hag, B 432. 
Cropen. //. crept, A 4259. 
Croper, s. crupper, G 566. 
Croslet, s. a crucible, G 1147; Crosselet, G 

1117. 
Crouche,/r. j. sign with the cross, A 3479. 
Croude, v. crowd, push; Crowdest, ipr. s. dost 

press, dost push, B 296. 
Crouke, s. crock, A 4158. 
Crouned,//. crowned, z'.e. supreme, F 526. See 

Corouned. 
Crowding, s. pressure, motive power, B 299. 
Croweth, pr. s. rejl. ; him croweth, crows, C 

362. 
Croys, 5-. cross, B 450; C 532; E 556. 
Crul, adj. pi. curly, A 81. 
Cucurbltes, s. pi. flasks for distilling, G 794. 
Culpe, s. guilt, I 336. 
Cure, s. care, endeavor, B 188; honest cure, 

care for honorable things, C 557; /// cure, in 

her care, in her power, B 230. 
Cures, s. pi. cares, pursuits, E 82. 
Cursedly, adv. wickedly, abominably, B 3419. 
Cursednesse, s. malice, B 1821; wickedness, B 

3575; shrewishness, E 1239. 
Curteisly, adv. courteously, B 1636. 
Curteisye, s. courtesy, refinement, B 3686; E 

74; F95. 
Cut, s. a lot,C 793. 



D. 



Daf, s. fool, A 4208. 

Dagginge, j. slitting, I 418. 

Dagon, s. fragment, D 1751. 

Daliance, Daliaunce, s. playful demeanor; he 

doth daliaunce, he behaves playfully and 

good-naturedly, B 1894. 
Dame, s. mother, C 684. 
Dampnable, adj. damnable, C 472. 
Dampnacioun, 6-. damnation, C 500. 
Dan. See Daun. 
Dare, v. daze, D 1294. 
Darreyne, v. contest, A 1609. 
Darst, 2 pr. s. darest, B 860; Dorste, pt. s. 

durst, B 753. 
Daswen,/^//. daze, are dazed, are dazzled, H 

31- 
Date, s. a date, term, period, G 1411. 
Daun, s. lord, sir, A 1379; Dan, B 3982. 
Daunce, v. to dance, B 126; Dauncen, pr. pi. 

Y 2T2. 

Daungerous, adj. difficult to please, B 2129. 

Dawe, V. to dawn, 3872. 

Day, s. day; also, an appointed day for the pay- 
ment of a sum of money, G 1040; day, time, 
B 3374; Dayes, //. days, lifetime, B 118; now 
a dayes, now-a-days, at this time, E 1164. 

Debaat, s. strife, G 1389. 

Debat, .s. debate, strife, war, B 130. 

Debate, v. to fight, war, B 2058. 

Declaring, j. declaration, B 3172. 

Dede, //. dead, A 942. See Deed. 

Dede; in dedc. indeed, in reality, B 3511. 

Deduyt. ,y. delight, A 2177. 

Deed,//, as adj. dead, B 209; //. dead, F 287. 

Deedly, adv. deadly, mortally, G 476. 

Deef , adj. deaf, A 446. 

Deel. See Del. 

Deer, s. pi. animals, B 1926. 

Dees, s, pi. dice, F 690. 

Deeth, s. death, B 3567; E 36, 510. 

Deface, v. to obliterate, E 510. 

Defame, s. dishonor, C 612. See Diffame. 

Defaute, j. defect, E 1018; default, fault, wick- 
edness, B 3718; fault, sin, C 370. 

Defenden, v. to forbid, C 590. 

Degyse, adj. fashionable, I 417. 

Degree, .r. rank, A 1168. 

Degrees, s pi. degrees of the zodiac, F 3S6. 

Deknes, j. //. deacons, G 547. 

Del, s. part ; every del, every whit, entirely, G 
1269. 

Deliver, adj. active, A 84. 

Deliverly, adv. adroitly, B 4606. 

Delivernesse, s. agility, I 452. 

Delte,//. s. dealt, G 1074. 

Delve, V. to dig up, F 638. 



340 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Delyces, j. //. delights, pleasures, C 547; G 3. 
Delyting, pr. pt. delighting, E 997. 
Demandes, s. pi. questions, E 348. 
Demaunde, s. demand, question, B 472. 
Deme, v. suppose, B 1038; give a verdict, G 

595; Demeth,/r. J. fancies, G 689; ivtp. pi. 

suppose ye, G 993; Demen, to give judgment, 

B 1639; V. judge, B 3045. 
Demeyne, s. dominion, B 3855. 
Depardieux, interj. on the part of God, by 

God's help, B 39. 
Departe, v. part, separate; Departed, pi. s. 

parted, B 1158; divided, C 812. 
Depe, adv. deeply, B 4. 
Depe, adj. deep, B 3988. 
Depe, s. the deep, the sea, B 455. 
Depper, adv. comp. deeper, B 630. 
Dere, adj. dear; pi. F 272. 
Dere, adv. dearly; to dere, too dearly, C 293. 
Dere, v. injure, woimd, harm, F 240. 
Dereling, s. darling, A 3793. 
Derkest, adj. sjiperl. darkest, B 304, 
Deme, adj. secret, A 3200. 
Derre, adv. comp. more dearly, A 1448. 
Descensories, s. pi. vessels for extracting oil, 

G792. 
Desclaundred, //. slandered, B 674. 
Desert, j. desert, deserving, merit, F 532. 
Desirous, adj. ardent, F 23. 
Deslavee, adj. unbridled, I 629. 
DeSOlaat, adj. deserted, alone; /widen desolaat, 

shunned, C 598. 
Desolat, adj. desolate, i.e. void of, lacking in, 

B131. 

Desordeynee, adj. inordinate, I 818. 

Desordinat, adj. disorderly, I 415. 

Despeired,//. filled with despair, B 3645. 

Despence, s. expenses, expenditure, money for 
expenses, B 105. See Dispence. 

Despendest, 2/r. s. spendest, wastest, B 2121. 

Despit, s. spite, B 591; vexation, dishonor, 
B699. 

DespitOUSly, adv. despitefuUy, maliciously, B 
605. 

Desport, j. amusement, sport, G 592. See Dis- 
port. 

Despyse, v. to despise, B 115. 

Despyt, .y. despite, a deed expressive of con- 
tempt, B 3738; in your despyt, in spite of 
you, in contempt of you, B 1753. 

Desray, j. disarray, confusion, I 927. 

Destourbe, v. to disturb; destourbe of, to dis- 
turb in, C 340. 

Destreyneth, vexes, constrains, A 1455. 

Deve, adj. pi. deaf, G 286. 

Devoir, s. duty, B 38; E 966. 

Devyse, <r^r. -o relate, tell, B 154; to describe, 
F 65; to plan, E 698; to frame, E 739; Devy- 



sen, V. imagine, E 108; Devyse, i pr. s. I 

tell, B 3693; pr. pi. imagine, discourse, F 261. 

Dextrer, s. a courser, war-horse, B 2103. 

Deye, v. die; Deyen, v. die, E 665; Deyde, 

pt. s. died, C 580; Deyeth,/r. j. dies, G 1436; 

Deyed,//. B 1841. 
Deyinge, s. dying, death, B 1850. 
Deyneth, impers. pr. s.; deyned him,pt. s. it 

deigned him, i.e. he deigned, B 3324. 
Deyntee, .y. pleasure, B 139; F 681; Deyntees, 

//. dainties, F 301. 
Deyntee, adj. dainty, pleasant, rare, B 1901; 

C 520; E 1112; F 70. 
Deynteuous, adj. dainty, E 265. 
Deys, s. dais, F 59. 
Dide,/^. s. put on, B 2047; dide hem dratve, 

caused to be drawn, B 1823. See Doon. 
Diffame, ^. evil name, ill report, E 540, 730. 

See Defame. 
Dighte, V. dight, prepare; dighte me, prepare 

myself to go, B 3104. 
Digne, adj. worthy, noble, B 1175; worthy, 

honored, C 695; suitable, B 778. 
Dignitee, j. dignity, rank, E 470. 
Dilatacioun, s. diffuseness, B 232. 
Discovere, v. to reveal, G 1465. 
Discripcioun, .y. description, F 580. 
Discryveth, pt. s. describes, E 43. 
Disdeyn, 5. disdain, contempt, F 700. 
Disdeyne, v. to disdain, E 98. 
Disese, .y. discomfort, source of pain, distress, B 

3961; misery, F 467; lack of ease, trouble, 

distress, misery, B 616; G 747; H 97. 
Disparage, j. disparagement, disgrace, E 908. 
Dispence, .y. expense, expenditure, E 1209. See 

Despence. 
Dispende, v. to spend, B 3500. 
Displeasances, i-. //. displeasures, annoyances, 

C 420. 
Dispoilen, v. to despoil, i.e. strip, E 374. 
Disport, s. pleasure, B 143. See Desport. 
Disposed, pp. inclined; ivel disposed, in good 

health (the converse oi indisposed) , H 33. 
Dissever, ger. to part, G 875. 
Dissimuleth, pr. s. dissimulates, acts foolishly, 

G466. 
Dissimulinge, .y. dissembling, G 1073. 
Diversely, adv. in different ways, F 202. 
Divyn, adj. divine, B 3247. 
Do. See Doon. 
Dogerel, adj. doggerel, B 2113. 
Dogges, s. pi dogs, B 3089. 
Dokked,//. cropped, A 590. 
Dolve. See Delve. 
Dome, s. judgment, C 637. 
Dominacioun, s. domination, supremacy, chief- 

est influence, F 352; dominion, C 560; power, 

H57. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



341 



Dominus. See Corpus. 

Don, Done. See Doon. 

Doom, .y. judgment, opinion, B 3127; F 677. 

Doon, V. do, G 166; act, B 90; make, B 3507; 
cause, B 3618; doon us honge, cause us to be 
hung, C 790; leet dofi cryen, cause to be 
cried, F 46; Doon, //. completed, G 387; 
doon make, caused to be made, E 253; hath 
doon yow kept, hath caused you to be kept, E 
1098; Do, V. cause, B 3107; Do, imp. s. make, 
H 12; cause, G 32; do hange, cause me to be 
hung, G 1029; do fecche, cause to be fetched, 
B 662; do ivey, put away, lay aside, G 487; 
Do come, tjnp. s. cause to come, B 2035 ; Do 
kepe, 2 pr. pi. cause to be kept, B 3624; Done, 
ger.for to done, a fit thing to do, I 62 ; Doost, 
■2 pr. s. makest, C 312; Dooth, imp. pi. do ye, 
C 745; do, E 568; as dooth, pray do, F 458; 
Dooth, doth, B 23; Doth forth, pr. s. contin- 
ues, E 1015. 

Dore, s. a door, E 282; F 615. 

Dote, V. dote; Doten, grow foolish, act foolishly, 
G983. 

Doublenesse, .y. duplicity, G 1300. 

Doughter, 5. daughter, B 151 ; E 608. 

Doughty, adj. doughty, strong, F 338; war- 
like, F II. 

Doun, adv. down, F 323; iip and down, in all 
directions, in all ways, B 53. See Adoun. 

Doune, s. down, hill {dat.), B 1986. 

Doute, .y. doubt; out o/doute, doubtless, B 390. 

Doutelees, adv. doubtless, without doubt, cer- 
tainly, C 492; without hesitation, B 226. 

Doutes, s. pi. fears, F 220. 

Dowaire, s. dower, E 848. 

Dowve, s. dove, pigeon, C 397. 

Dradde, //. .y. dreaded, feared, B 3402; dradde 
him,v/3.s afraid, B 3918; Drad, //. dreaded, 
E 69; Dradden, pt. pi. subj. should dread, 
should fear, G 15. See Drede. 

Draf, .y. draff", refuse, chaff", I 35. 

Drasty, adj. filthy, worthless, trashy, B 2113. 

Drawe, //. drawn, moved; drawe him, with- 
draw himself, F 355; drawen hem, pr. pi. 
withdraw themselves, F 252; Draweth, itnp. 
pi. invite, B 1632. 

Drecched, //. harassed, B 4077. 

Drede, .y. fear, G 204; doubt, C 507; it is no 
drede, there is no doubt, B 869; ont 0/ drede, 
out of doubt, certainlj', E 634. 

Drede, i pr. s. I dread, fear, E 636; Dreed, iinp. 
s. dread, fear, E 1201 ; Dreden, v. to fear, G 
320; to drede, ger. to be feared, G 437. 

Dredful, adj. terrible, B 3558. 

Drenche, v. drown; Drenchen, to be drowned, 
B455- 

Drenching, s. drowning, B 485. 

Drery, adj. sad, E 514. 



Dresse, v. address, prepare, E 1049; ^'- refl. 

address himself, G 1271 ; dresseth hir, pt. s. 

rejl. prepares herself, B 265 ; Dressen, pr. pi. 

prepare themselves, set forward, B 263; Dresse, 

pr. pi. reJl. direct themselves, i.e. take their 

places in order, B 416. 
Dreye, adj. dry, B 3233. 
Dreynt. See Drenche. 
Drive,//, driven, B 3203. 
Drogges, s. pi. drugs, A 426. 
Dronke,/A//. drank, B 3418; Dronken, B 3390. 
Dronkelewe, adj. drunken, overcome with 

drink, C 495. 
Dronkenesse, s. drunkenness, B 771 ; C 484. 
Drope, .y. drop, G 522. 
Drough, //. s. refl. drew himself, approached, B 

1710. 
Droughte, j. drought, F 118. 
Drovy, adj. turbid, I 816. 
Drugge, V. drudge, A 1416. 
Dryve, v. drive; dryve the day awey, pass the 

time, C 628. 
Duk, .y. duke, A 860. 
Dul, adj. dull, F 279. 

Dulleth, /r. s. makes dull, stupefies, G 1172. 
Dun, s. the dun horse, H 5. 
Dwale, 5-. sleeping-draught, A 4161. 
Dyed,//, s. dyed, steeped, F 511. 
Dyen, v. die, B 114. See Deye. 



Ebbe, .y. ebb, low water, F 259. 

Eek, adv. eke, also, B 59, 70; moreover, also, B 

140. 
Eet, //. .y. ate, C 510; imp. s. eat, B 3640. See 

Ete. 

Effect, J. deed, reality ; in effect, in fact, in re- 
ality, G 511. 

Eft, adv. again, G 1263. 

Eftsone, adv. soon after, G 1288; soon after 
this, H 65; hereafter, G 933; again, B 909. 

Eggement, j. instigation, incitement, B 842. 

Egre, adj. eager, sharp, fierce, E 1199. 

Egreraoine, s. agrimony, G 800. 

Eighte, mim. eight, C 771. 

Eightetethe, ord. adj. eighteenth, B 5. 

Eir, j-. air, A 1246. 

EkkO, i'. echo, E 1189. 

Elaat, adj. elate, B 3357. 

Elder, adj. comp. older, B 1720, 3450. 

Eldres. 5. //. elders, forefathers, B 3388. 

Elenge, adj. wretched, B 1412. 

Elf-queen, jr. fairy queen, B 1978. 

EUebor, j. hellebore, B 4154. 

Elles, adv. else, otherwise; ellcs god forbede, 
God forbid it should be otherwise, G 1046. 

Elleswher, adv. elsewhere, G 1130. 



342 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Elvish, adj. lit. elvish, imp-like, mysterious; 

but used in the sense of foolish, G 751 ; elf-like, 

abstracted, G 842. 
Embassadrye, s. embassy, negotiation, B 233. 
Emeraude, .$•. emerald, B 1799. 
Empeireden, //. //. made worse, B 2205. 
Empeyre,/r. j. impair, E 2198. 
Emplastre, /r. //. plaster over, "whitewash," 

E 2297. 
Empoisoned, //. poisoned, B 3850. 
Empoisoning, j. poisoning, C 891. 
Empoysoner, .r. poisoner, C 894. 
Emprinteth, imp. pi. imprint, impress, E 1193. 
Empryse, s. enterprise, undertaking, G 605. 
Empte, V. empty, make empty, G 741; Empten, 

G 1404. 
Enbibing, s. imbibition, absorption, G 814. 
Encens, i-. incense, A 2938. 
Encense, v. to offer incense, G 395, 413. 
Encheson, s. occasion, cause, F 456; Enchesoun, 

B 2783. 
Encorporing, s. incorporation, G 815. 
Encrees, .$■. increase, B 237; G 18. 
Encrese, v. increase; Encresse, B 1068; En- 

cresen, B 1654; Encresseth, /r. J. E 50; En- 

cressed, //. E 408. 
Ende, ^. end, result, B 481. 
Endelees, adj endless, B 951. 
Endelong, /r^/. down along, F 416. 
Endentinge, s. scalloping, I 417. 
Endetted,//. indebted, G 734. 
Endure, v. last, B 3538. 

Endyte, v. indict, B 3858; Endyted, //. com- 
posed, B 3170; Endyten, v. indite, write, B 

781. 
Enformed,//. informed, E 738; F 335. 
Engendred, //. engendered, begotten, E 158. 
Engreggen, pr. pi. weigh upon, I 979. 
Engyn, .y. gin, machine, F 184; genius, skill, 

G339- 

Enlurained, //!. .y. illumined, E 33. 

Enluting, j. securing with " lute," daubing with 
clay, etc., to exclude air, G 766. 

Enquere, v. inquire, search into, B 629. 

Enqueringe, j. inquiry, B 888. 

Entencioun, s. intention, intent, C 408. 

Entende, ger. to direct one's attention, apply 
one's self, B 3498; to attend, dispose one's 
self, F 689. 

Entente, J. will, B 824; design, B 3835; plan, 
B 147,206; endeavor, G 7; wish, E 189; mind, 
B 1740; in good entent, with good will, B 
1902; as to coniniujie etitentc, with reference 
to its common {i e. plain) meaning, i e. in 
plain, intelligible language, F 107. 

Entraille, .y. entrails, inside, E 1188. 

Entredited,//. under an interdict, I 905. 

Entringe, pr. pt. entering, I 12. 



Envenimed,//. envenomed, poisoned, B 3314. 

Envoluped,//. wrapped up, enveloped, involved, 
C942. 

Envye, s. envy, jealousy, B 3584. 

Envyned,//. supplied with wine, A 342. 

Equitee, j. equity, justice, E 439. 

Er, adv. before, B 420; G 1273. 

Er, conj. ere, B 119; F 130; er now, ere now, 
F 460; er that, before, E 178. 

Er, prep, before, C 892; er that, before that, 
G375- 

Erchedeken, s. archdeacon, D 1300. 

Ere, s. ear, F 196, 316. 

Erl, i^. earl, B 3597, 3646. 

Erme, v. feel sad, grieve, C 312. 

Ernestful, adj. serious, E 1175. ! 

Ers, s. buttocks, A 3734. ^ 

"Exst, adv. first, at first; at erst, for the first 
time, B 1884; G 151; long erst er, long first 
before, C 662. See Er. 

Eschue, V. to eschew, avoid, shun, G 4. 

Ese, J. ease, E 217; pleasure, G 746; ease, re- 
lief, H 25. 

Espye, V. inquire about, B 180. 

Essoyne, .r. excuse for absence, I 164. 

Est, s. east, B 297, 493, 3657 

Estaat, s. rank, B 973; estate, condition, rank, 
B 3592; way, E 610. 

Estatlich, adj. stately, A 140. 

Ete, V. eat, F 617. 

Evangyles, s. pi. gospels, B 666. 

Eve, s. eve, evening, F 364; G 375. 

Evel, adv. ill, B 1897. 

Evene, adj. even, E 811. 

Everich, every one, E 1017; either of the two, 
B 1004. 

Everichon, every one, B 330. 

Exaltacioun, j. exaltation (a term in astrology), 
I 10. 

Exametron, i'. a hexameter, B 3169. 

Expans, adj. separate, F 1275. 

Expert, adj. experienced, B 4; skilful in per- 
forming an experiment, experienced, G 1251. 

Expoune, V. to expound, explain, B 3398; G 86; 
Expouned,//. s. B 3399. 

Extenden, pr.J>l. are extended, B 461. 

Ey, intcrj. eh! what! C 782. 

Ey, J. egg, G 806. 

Eyleth,/r. s. ails, B 1171; aileth, H 16; Eyled, 
pt. s. ivipers. ailed, F 501. 

Eyre, s. air, gas, G 767. 



P. 



Face, s. face; a technical term in astrology, sig- 
nifying the third part of a sign (of the zodiac) ; 
a part of the zodiac ten degrees in extent, F 50. 

Fader, s. father; fader day, father's day, fath- 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



343 



er's time, B 3374; Fadres, fathers, ancestors, 
E 61; parents, originators, B 129; fader kin, 
father's race, ancestry, G 829. 

Fairnes, Fairnesse, s. fairness, beauty, E 384. 

Fairye, s. fairyland, F 96; fairy contrivance, 
magic, F 201. 

Falling, s. coarse cloth, A 391. 

Falle, V. happen, light, E 126; suit, E 259; //. 
happened, E 938; Fallen, v. happen, F 134; 
accidentally placed, F 684; Fil, pt. s. fell, C 
804; Fel, befell, B 141. See Fil. 

Fals, adj. false, B 74. 

False, V. deceive, be untrue to; Falsed,//. fal- 
sified, broken (faith), F 627. 

False get, cheating contrivance, G 1277. 

Falshede, j. falsehood, G 979. 

Faltren, pr. pi. falter, fail, B 772. 

Falwes, J. //. fallows, D 656. 

Fame, s. good report, E 418. 

Fan, s. vane, quintain, H 42. 

Fantastyk, adj. imaginative, A 1376. 

Fare, j. business, goings on, B 569. 

Fare, i pr. s. go, G 733; am, B 1676; //. gone, 
B 512; Fareth, /r. s. it turns out, G 966; it 
fares, it is, E 1217; Faren, i pr. pi. we fare, 
live, G 662; Far well, imp. s. farewell, B 116, 

Farewel, interj. farewell ! it is all over, G 907. 

Faste, adv. quickly, G 245; as faste, very 
quickly, G i22,s;/aste by, close at hand, B 3116. 

Faster, adv. closer, B 3722. 

Faucon, s. falcon, F 411, 424. 

Fauconers, s. pi. falconers, F 1196. 

Faught,/^. ^. fought, B 3519. 

Fayn, adv. gladly, willingly, B 41; wolde/ayn, 
would fain, would be glad to, E 696. 

Fayn, adj. glad, H 92. 

Feble, adj. feeble, weak, E 1198. 

Fecche, v. to fetch, B 1857; Fecchen, E 276. 
See Fet. 

Feeld, s. field, in an heraldic sense, B 3573; 
Feld, dat. field, plain, B 3197. 

Feend, j. the fiend, F 522. 

Feet, s. performance, E 429. 

Feffed in, pp. invested with, E 1698. 

Fel,//. s. befell, happened, B 141. See Falle. 

Fel, adj. fell, cruel, terrible, B 2019. 

Feld. See Feeld. 

Fele, adj. many, E 917. 

Felle. See Fel. 

Felonye, j. crime, B 643. 

Femenye, i-. womankind, A 866. 

Femininitee, s. feminine form, B 360. 

Fen, J. chapter, or subdivision of Avicenna's 
book, called the Canon, C 890. 

Fend. See Feend. 

Fer, adj. far, B 508, 658. 

Ferde, //. s. fared, i.e. behaved, E 1060. See 
Fare. 



Fere, s. dat. fear, B 3369. 
Fered,//. terrified, afraid, G 924. 
Ferforth, adv. far, as fer/orth as, as far as, B 
1099; so ferforth, to such a degree, G 40. 
See Fer. 
Ferly, adj. wonderful, A 4173. 
Fermacies, s. pi. pharmacies, medicines, A 2713. 
Ferme, adj. firm, E 663. 

Fermerere, j. keeper of the infirmary, D 1859. 
Fern, adv. long ago; so fern, so long ago, F 

256. 
Fern-asshen, .?. pi. fern-ashes, ashes produced 

by burning ferns, F 254. 
Ferre. See Fer. 

Ferreste, adj. super, farthest, A 494. 
Ferthe, fourth, B 823; G 531. 
Ferther, adj. further, B 1686. 
Ferthing, s. morsel, A 134. 
Fest, .r. first, C 802. 

Feste, s. feast, festival; to feste, to the feast, at 
a feast, B 1007 ; han to feste, to invite, B 380. 
Festeyinge, pr. pt. feasting, entertaining, F 345. 
Festlich, adj. festive, fond of feasts, F 281. 
Festue, V. fasten, A 195. 
Fet,//. fetched, B 667. 

Fete, s. pi. dat. feet; to fete, at his feet, B 1104. 
Fetis, adj. well-made, neat, graceful, C 478. 
Fetisly, adv. neatly, skilfully, A 273. 
Fettred,//. s. fettered, B 3547. 
Fey, 5-. faith, C 762. 

Feyne, v. feign, speak falsely; Feyned, //. pre- 
tended, F 524; feyne ns, pretend as regards 
ourselves, B 351. 
Feyning, s. pretending, cajolery, F 556. 
Feynting, j. fainting, failing, E 970. 
Figures, 5-. //. figures of speech, E 16. 
Figuringe, s. similitude, figure, G 96. 
Fil, pt. s. fell, occurred, happened, B 1865; as 
fer as reason f I, as far as reason extended, F 
570; Fillen, fell, B 3183. See Falle. 
Fingres, s. pi. fingers, E 380. 
Firste, adj. used as a s.; jiiy firste, my first 

narration, F 75. 
Fish, J. the sign Pisces, F 273. 
Fit, J. a " fyt " or " passus," a portion of a song, 

B 2078. 
Fithele, j. fiddle, A 296. 
Fix, Fixe,//, fixed, solidified, G 779. 
Flambes, J. //. flames, B3353; G 515. 
Flayn,//. flayed, I 425. 
Flee, V. fly, F 503. 
Fleen, s. pi. fleas, H 17. 
Fleet, /r. s. floats, B 463. 
Fleigh,//. s. fled, B 3879. 
Flekked,//. spotted, G 565. 
Flemer, s. banisher, driver away, B 460. 
Flemeth, pr. s. chases away, H 182; Flemed, 
//. banished, G 58. 



344 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Flex, s. flax, A 676, 
Flo, J. dart, H 264. 
Flokmele, adv. in a flock, in a great number, 

E86. 
Flood, s. flood, flowing of the sea, F 259. 
Flotery, adj. dishevelled, A 2883. 
Flour, s. choice, pattern, E 919. 
Floure, /r. ^. sudj. flower, flourish, E 120. 
Floytinge, />res. pi. fluting, A 91. 
Fneseth, /r. s. breathes heavily, puff"s, snorts, 

H62. 
Foison, s. abundance, B 504. 
Folwen, /r. //. follow, C 514; Folweth, z'j/ip. 

pi. follow, imitate, E 11 89. 
Foly, Folye, j. folly, E 236. 
Fome. See Foom. 
Fonde, v. try to persuade, B 347; attempt, try, 

E 283. See Founde. 
Fonge, V. to receive, B 377. 
Fonne, j. fool, A 4089. 
Font-full water, fontful of water, B 357. 
Fontstoon, j. font, B 723. 

Fool, J. a fool, employed to make sport, B 3271. 
Foom, J. foam, G 564; Fome, dat. G 565. 
Foo-men, j. //. foes, B 3255, 3507. 
Foot-hot, adv. instantly, on the spot, B 438. 
For, C071J. in order that, B 478; F 102. 
For, prep.; for vte, by my means, F 357. 
Forage, s. forage, food, B 1973. 
Forbad,//, s. forbade, E 570; Forbedeth, pr. s. 

forbids, C 643. 
Force. See Fors. 

Fordoon, v. to do for, to destroy, B 369. 
For-dronke, pp. very drunk, C 674. 
Fordrye, adj. very dry, exceedingly dry, with- 
ered up, F 409. 
Fore, s. course, D 1935. 
For-fered, pp. exceedingly afraid; forfercd of, 

very afraid for, F 527. 
Forgoon, V. forgo, G 610. 
Forlete, v. to leave, yield up, B 1848; to give 

up, C 864. 
Forme-fader, first father, B 2293. 
Forncast, //. planned, I 448. 
Forneys, j. furnace, A 559. 
Fors, s. ; make 710 fors, take no heed, H 68. 
Forsake, v. to forsake, leave, B 3431. 
Forsleuthen, v. over tarry, B 4286. 
For-Sleweth, pr. s. is over-slothful, I 685. 
For-Sluggeth, pr. s. is over-sluggish, I 685. 
Forster, s. forester, A 117. 
For-straught, //. exhausted, B 1295. 
Forth, adv. forth, F 605; 7ised as v. go forth, 

F604. 
Forthermo, adv. moreover, C 594. 
Forther over, adv. furthermore, moveover, C 

648. 
Forth-right, adv. straight, directly, F 1503. 



Forthward, adv. forward, B 263. 

For-thy, adv. therefore, A 1841. 

Fortunen, v. presage, A 417. 

For-waked,//. weary through watching, B 596. 

Forward, ,y. promise, B 40. 

Forwiting, s. foreknowledge, B 4433. 

Forwrapped,//. wrapped up, C 718. 

Foryetful, adj. forgetful, E 472. 

Fostred, //. nurtured, brought (up), G 122; 

nurtured in the faith, G 539; nurtured, kept, 

E 1043. 
Fote, J. a foot; on fate, on foot, F 390. 
Fother, jr. cartload, A 530. 
Foul, adj. foul, bad; for foicl ne fair, by foul 

means or fair, B 525; foule, adj. poor, 

wretched, B 4003. 
Founden,//. provided, B 243. 
Foundred,//. j. fell, A 2687. ^ 

Foure, four, B 491. 4 

Fourneys, .y. furnace, B 3353. * 

Yoyntn, pres. pi. thrust, A 1654. 
Foyson, .y. abundance, A 3165. 
Fraknes, ,y. //. freckles, A 2169. 
Frankeleyn, j. franklin, F 675. 

Fraught, //. freighted, B 171. 

Fraunchyse, j. liberality, B 3854. 

Frayneth,/r. j. prays, beseeches, B 1790. 

Freendes, s. pi. friends, B 269. 

Freletee, s. frailty, E 1160. 

Fremde, foreign, F 429. 

Frete, //. eaten, devoured, B 475; Freten, //. 

devoured, A 2068. 
Freyned, //. asked, questioned, G 433. 
Froteth, pr. s. rubs, A 3747. 
Fructuous, adj. fruitful, I 73. 
Fruyt, J. result (lit. fruit), B 411. 
Fruytesteres, s.pl.fetn. fruit-sellers, C 478. 
Ful, adj. full, B 86. 
Ful, adv. very, B 3506; ful many, very many, 

F128. 
Fulfild, //. fulfilled, E 596; completed, fully 

performed, I 17. 
FuUiche, adv. fully, E 706. 
Fulsomnesse, s. satiety, profuseness, F 405. 
Fumetere, ^. the herb fumitory, B 4153. 
Fumositee, s. fumes arising from drunkenness, 

C567; F358. 
Furial, adj. tormenting, F 448. 
Fusible, adj. fusible, capable of being fused, G 

856. 
Fyf, five, B 3602. 

Fyn, .y. end, purpose, result, B 3348, 3884. 
Fyne, adj. pi. fine, good, F 640. 
Fyr, J. fire, B 3734. 



G. 



Gadrede,//. j. gathered, A 824. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



345 



Galllard, Gaylard, adj. gay, merry, A 4367, 

3336. 
Gale, V. cry out, D 832. 
Galianes, j. //. medicines, C 306. 
Galingale, s. sweet cypress root, A 381. 
Galle, J. gall, B 3537; G 58, 797. 
Galoche, j. a shoe, F 555. 
Galoun, s. gallon, H 24. 
Galping, pres. pi. gaping, F 350. 
Galwes, j. //. gallows, B 3924, 3941. 
Game, s. joke, E 733. 
Ganeth,/r. s. yawneth, H 35. 
Gargat, j. throat, B 4525. 
Garnisoun, ,y. garrison, B 8217. 
Gas, goes, A 4037. 
Gat-tothed, adj. goat-toothed, lascivious, A 

468. 
Gaude, s. trick, course of trickery, C 389. 
Gauren, ger. to gaze, stare, B 912; Gaureth, 

pr. s. gazes, stares, B 3559. 
Gayler, j. jailer, B 3615. 
Gayneth, /r. s. availeth, A 1787. 
Gaytres beryies, berries of the dogwood tree, 

B 4155- 

Geaunt, j. giant, B 1997. 

Gent, adj. refined, exquisite, noble, B 1905. 
Short for gentil. 

Gentil, adj. gentle, worthy, B 1627; excellent, 
B 3123; compassionate, F 483; Gentils, //. 
people of gentle birth, " the noble folk," C 
323; E 480. 

Gentillesse , j. kindness, G 1054; condescen- 
sion, B 853; nobleness, B 3441; F 483, 505; 
nobility, B 3854; worth, E 96; slenderness, 
symmetry, F 426; delicate nurture, E 593. 

Gentilleste, adv. noblest, E 72. 

Gentilly, adv. courteously, B 1093; in a frank 
or noble manner, frankly, F 674. 

Geomancie, j. divination by figures made on the 
earth, I 605. 

Gere, s. gear, property, B 800; gear, clothing, 
E372. 

Gerland, s. garland, G 27. 

Gery, adj. changeable, A 1536. 

Gesse, i pr. s. suppose, B 246. 

Geste, ,5-. a stock story; in geste, like the com- 
mon stock stories, B 2123; Gestes, //. stories, 
B 1126; F 211. 

Gestours (^ as /),//. story-tellers, B 2036. 

Get, J. contrivance, G 1277. 

Geten,//. han geien hetn, to have acquired for 
themselves, F 56. 

Gif, C071J. if, A 4 1 81. 

Gigginge, prcs. pt. strapping, A 2504. 

Giltlees, adj. guiltless, B 643; Giltelees, B 1062. 

Gin, s. snare, contrivance, G 1165. 

Gingebreed, s. gingerbread, B 2044. 

Gipoun, s. short vest, A 75. 



Girdel, ,y. a girdle, B 1921. 

Girden, v. to strike, B 3736. 

Giternes, j.-. //. guitars, C 466. 

Glade, v. to make glad, comfort, cheer, B 4001. 

Gladly, adv. willingly, F 224; that been gladly 

wyse, that wish to be thought wise, F 376. 
Gladsom, aaj. pleasant, B 3968. 
Glas, s. glass, F 254. 
Glede, s. a burning coal, Bin, 3574. 
Glee, J. entertainment, B 2030. 
Gleyre, j. white (of an egg), G 806. 
Glood, pt. s. glided, went quickly, B 2094. 
Glose, -y. glosing, comment, F 166. 
Glose, V. to flatter, B 3330; I 45; Glosen, to 

comment upon, B 1180. 
Glyde, v. glide; up glyde, to rise up gradually, 

F373'' to glide, ascend, G 402. See Glood. 
Gnow, pt. s. gnawed, B 3638. 
Goddes,^^«. sing. God's, B 1166. 
Golet, J. throat, gullet, C 543. 
Gon, V. go, proceed, F 200; Gooth, /r. s. goes, 

B 385; Goost, 7.pr. s. goest, walkest about, B 

3123; Goon, /r. //. go, proceed, E 898; Goon, 

//. gone, B 17; goo7i is many a yere, many a 

year ago, B 132; Go, 2 pr. pi. ye walk, go on 

foot, C 748. See Goon. 
Gonne, pt. pi. did; gon?ie arace, did tear 

away, removed, E 1103. See Gan. 
Good, J. goods, property, wealth, G 831. 
Goodlich, adj. kind, bountiful, G 1053. 
Goodly, adj. good, proper, pleasing, right, B 

3969; good-looking, portly, B 4010. 
Good-man, j. master of the house, C 361. 
Goon, V. go; lete it goon, let it go, neglect it, 

G 1475. See Gon. 
Goost. See Gon. 
Goost, s. a ghost, B 3124; the Holy Ghost, B 

1660; yaf up the goost, died, B 1862. See 

Gost. 
Goot, .y. a goat, G 886. 
Gossomer, s. gossamer, F 259. 
Gost, .r. ghost (ironically), H 55; the Holy 

Ghost, G 328. See GoOSt. 
Gost. See Goon. 

Gostly, adv. spiritually, mystically, G 109. 
Goth, imp. pi. go, B 3384. See Gon. 
Governaille, s. management, mastery, E 1192. 
Governance, J. government, B 287; providence, 

E 1161; arrangement, plan, E 994; Gover- 

naunce, rule, government, C 600; sovereignty, 

B 3541 ; his governaunce, the way to manage 

him, F 311. 
Governe, v. govern, control, B 3587; Governeth, 

imp. pi. arrange, E 322. 
Governour, s. governor, master, principal, B 

3130- 
Grace, .s. favor, kindness, F 458; favor, G 1348; 
hir grace, her favor {i.e. that of the blessed 



346 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Virgin), B 980; pardon, B 647; of grace, out 

of favor, in kindness, F 161. 
Gracelees, adj. void of grace, unfavored by God, 

G 1078. - . 
j^rant mercy, much thanks, G 1380. 
' Gras, s. grace, B 2021. See Grace. 

Gras, s. grass, F 153. 

Graunten, v. grant, fix, name, E 179; Graunted, 

//. s. E 183. 
Grave, v. bury, E 681. 
Grayn, s. dye; in gray n, in dye, i.e. dyed of a 

fast color, B 1917, See Greyn. 
Gree, j. gratitude, good part, E 1151. 
Grene, adj. as s. greenery, greenness, F 54; 

greenness, living evidence, G 90. 
Grenehede, s. greenness, wantonness, B 163. 
Gret, adj. great, F 463. 
Gretter, adj. covip. greater, E 1126. 
Grevaunce, j. grievance, hardship, B 3703. 
Greve, %>. to grieve, vex, B 1638; Greveth,/r. .y. 

impers. it vexes, it grieves, E 647. 
Greyn, s. a grain, B 1852; in greyn, in grain, 

i.e. of a fast color, F 511. 
Grisly, adj. terrible, awful, B 3299; grewsome, 

C473- 
Gronte,/2?. s. groaned, B 3899. 
Grotes, j. //. groats, fourpenny pieces, C 376. 
Grucche, v. to murmur, E 170; grucche it, to 

murmur at it, E 354. 
Gruf, adv. grovellingly, all along, flat down, B 

1865. 
Grys, s. gray, G 559. 
Gyde, j. ruler, G 45. 
Gyde, imp. s. may (He) guide, B 245. 
Gye, V. guide, rule, B 3587; ger. to guide, regu- 
late, I 13. 
Gyse, s. guise, wise, way, manner, F 332; in 

his gyse, as he was wont, B 790. 



H. 



Haberdassher, j. seller of hats, A 361. 
Habergeoun, j. a habergeon, hauberk, A 2119.' 
Habounde, v. to abound, B 3938. 
Habundant, adj. abundant, E 59. 
Haf , pt. s. heaved, A 3470. 
Hainselins, s. pi. smocks, I 422. 
Hakeney, s. hack-horse, hackney, G 559. 
Halp, pt. s. helped, B 3236. 
Halse, ipr. s. I conjure, B 1835. 
Halt,/r. s. holdeth, holds, B 807; F 61. 
Halwed,/^. i-. consecrated, hallowed, G 551. 
Halwes, lit. holy ones, B 1060; gen. pi. of (all) 

saints, G 1244. 
Halydayes, //. holy days, festivals, A 3952; I 

667. 
Han, V. keep, retain, C 725; take away, C 727; 

obtain, G 234. 



Hande-brede, s. hand-breadth, A 3811. 

Hap, s. luck, B 3928; G 1209. 

Happeth,/r. s chances, F 592; Happede,/^ s. 

happened, C 606. 
Harde, adj. def. hard, cruel, F 499. 
Hardily, adv. boldly, without doubting, with- 
out question, E 25. 
Hardinesse, s. boldness, B 3210. 
Harding, j. hardening, tempering, F 243. 
Hardy, adj. bold, sturdy, F 19. 
Haried, //. taken as a prisoner, A 2726. 
Harlot, s. rascal, A 647; D 1754. 
Harlotryes, s. pi. ribaldries, A 561. 
Harme, s. harm, injury, suffering {dat.), F 632. 
Harneised, //. equipped, A 114. 
Harneys, s. armor, gear, furniture, harness, A 

1006, 2896. 
Harre, .y. hinge, A 550. 
Harrow, interj. alas ! C 288. 
Harwed, //. harrowed, devastated, A 3512; D 

2107. 
Hasard, j. the game of hazard, C 591. 
Hasardour, j. gamester, G 596. 
Hasardrye, .?. gaming, playing at hazard, C 590. 
Hasteth, imp. pi. 7-eJl. hasten, make haste, I 72. 
Hastif, adj. hasty, E 349. 
Hastilich, adv. quickly, E 911. 
Hauberk, s. coat of mail, B 2053. See Haber- 
geoun. 
Hauking, s. hawking; an hanking, a-hawking, 

B 1927. 
Haunt, s. practice, A 447; abode, B 2001. 
Haunteth, pr. s. practises, C 547; Haunteden, 

pt. pi. practised, C 464; Haunten, pr. pi. I 

780. 
Hauteyn, adj. loud, C 330. 
Have, V. have, B 114; imp. s. hold, consider, 

F 7; receive, E 567; Haveth, imp. pi. hold, 

F 700. 
Hawe, .y. haw, yard, enclosure, C 855. 
Hawe, s. haw; ivith hawe bake, with baked 

haws, with coarse fare, B 95. 
He, used for it, G 867, 868. 
Hede, .y. heed, care, B 3577. 
Hedes, s. pi. heads, F 203; Hevedes, B 2032; 

maugree thyn heed, in spite of thy head, in 

spite of all thou canst do, B 104. 
Heeld, I pt. s. held, considered, E 818; pt. s. 

held, esteemed, C 625; possessed, B 3518; 

Helde, //. held, B 3506. 
Heep, .y. heap, assembly, host, A 575. 
Heer, adv. here, B 1177. 
Heigh, adj. high, lofty, B 3192. 
Hele, V. to heal, F 240. 
Helle, dat. hell, B 3292. 
Helmed,//, provided with a helmet, B 3560. 
Henne, adv. hence, C 687. 
Kente, pt. s. seized, took forcibly, E 534; took 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



347 



in hunting, B 3449; caught away, B 1144; 

raised, lifted, G 205; pr. s. subj. may seize, 

G7. 
Hepe, s. hip, B 1937. 
Her, /ri?«. poss. their, B 138, 140. 
Heraud, 5-. herald, A 2533. 
Herbergage, j. lodging, abode, B 147. 
Herbergeours, s. pi. harbingers, providers of 

lodging, B 997. 
Herberwe, lodging, inn, harbor, A 403, 765. 
Her-biforn. adv. herebefore, B 613. 
Herd,//, haired, A 2518. 
Here, pron. her, B 460. 
Here, V. hear; Herd,//, heard, B 613. 
Here. See Heer. 
Herieth, pr. s". praiseth, B 1115; prai.ses, B 

1808; Heriest, 2 pr. s. praisest, worshippest, 

B 3419; Herie, pr. pi. E 616; Herien, G 47; 

Heried, //. B 872. 
Herkne.^^r. to hearken, listen to, B 3159; Herk- 

neth, imp. pi hearken ye, C 454; Herkeneth, 

imp. pi. to hearken, listen to, B 1164; Herk- 

ned, pt. s. B 1711; Herkning, pres. part. 

listening to, F 78 ; Herkned after, //. listened 

for, expected, F 403. 
Hemes, j. //. corners, G 658. 
Heronsewes, .$•. //. hemshaws, young herons, 

F68. 
Herte-blood, heart's blood, C 902. 
HerteleeS, without heart, cowardly, B 4098. 
Hertes, j. ge7i. hart's, B 3447. 
Herte-spoon, .y. " the concave part of the breast, 

where the ribs unite with the cartilago ensi- 

fortiiis" A 2606. 
Hertly, adj. hearty, lit. heart-like, E 502; F 5. 
Her-to, adz> for this purpose, B 243. 
Heryinge,/. /r^j. praising, B 1649. 
Heste, s. behest, command, B 382, 3754. 
Hete, s. heat, G 1408. 
Hethen, adj. heathen, B 904. 
Hethenesse, s. heathen lands, B 11 12. 
Hething, s. mockery. A 41 10. 
Heven, s. heaven, the celestial sphere, B 3300; 

a supreme delight, F 558. 
Hewe, J. pretence, C 421; hue, appearance, 

mien, E 377. 
Hewe, .y. domestic servant, E 1785. 
Hey, s. hay, H 14. 

Heyne, .y. a worthless person, G 1319. 
Heyre, adj. hair, made of hair, C 736. 
Hiderward, adv. hither, in this direction, B 

3159- 
Highte, '2 pt. pi. promised, E 496. 
Highte, s height, B 12 
Hindreste, hindmost, A 622. 
Hipes,//. hips, A 472 

YLix, pron. poss. their, B 112; her, B 65, 164. 
HiXypron. pers. her, B 162. 



His, its, E 263 ; F 405. 

Bit, pr. s. hides, F 512. 

Ho, iiiterj. halt! B 3957. 

Hoker, s. mockery, A 3965. - 

Hokerly, adv. scornfully, I 584. '% 

Hold, s. fort, castle, B 507; hold, grasp, F 167. 

Holde, V. keep to; hold, keep, B 41; to keep to, 
F 658 (see Proces); considered to be, F 70; 
Holden,// considered, E 205; Holde, z pr. s. 
I consider, deem, G 739. 

Hole, adj. pi. whole, hale; hole and sounde, 
safe and sound, B 1150. 

Holour, s. lecher, D 254. 

Holpen, //. helped, aided, F 666. Pp. of Helpen. 

Holt, .r. wood, grove, A 6. 

Holwe, adj. hollow, G 1265. 

Horn, adv. home, homewards, F 635. 

Homicyde, J. homicide, assassin, B 1757; man- 
slaughter, murder, C 644. 

Hond, .y. hand, B 3506; on honde, in hand, B 
343. 

Honest, adj. honorable, worthy, B 1751 ; honor- 
able, seemly, decent, C 328. 

Honestee, .y. honor, dignity, B 3157. 

Honestetee, s. honorableness, honor, E 422. 

Honestly, adv. honorably, G 549. 

Honge, V. to hang, C 790. See Doon. 

Hony, s. honey, B 3537; F 614. 

Hool, adj. well, F 161; whole, perfect, G in, 
117. 

Hoom, adv. homewards, B 3548. 

Hoomlinesse, j. homeliness, domesticity, E 429. 

Hoor, adj. hoary, gray, C 743. 

Hoot. See Hote. 

Hope, .y. hope, expectation, G 870. 

Hoppesteres, j. //. dancers, A 2017. 

Hord, .y. hoard, treasure, C 775. 

Horn, s. horn (musical instrument), H 90. 

Hors, s. a horse, B 15. 

Horsly, adj. horse like, like all that a horse 
should be, F 194. 

Hose, .y. hose, old stocking, G 726; Hosen, /i. 
i3 1923. 

Hoste, s. host, B I, 39; E I. 

Hostelrye, .$•. hostelry, G 589. 

Hostiler, .y. innkeeper, A 241. 

Hote, adj. hot, an epithet of Aries, as supposed 
to induce anger and heat of blood, F 51. 

Houndes, s. pi. dogs, E 1095. 

Houndfish, s. shark, E 1825. 

Houped, //.//. whooped, B 4590. 

Housbound, s. husband, B 863. 

Housbondrye, s. economy, A 4077. 

Housled, //. having received the Eucharist, I 
1027. 

Humanitee, s. kindness, E 92. 

Hurlest, Q. pr. s. dost hurl, dost whirl, B 297. 

Hyde, V. hide, i.e. lie concealed, F 141. 



348 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Hye, ger. to hasten; hy the, hasten thyself, be 

quick, G 1295. 
Hye, adv. high, aloft, B 3592. 
Hyne, s. hind, peasant, C 688. 

I {forlatidj). 

lade, s. a jade, i.e. a miserable hack, B 4002. 
lalousye, j. jealousy, C 366. 
lambeux, s. pi. leggings, leg-armor, B 2065. 
lane, j. a small coin, properly of Genoa, B 1925; 

E999. 
langle, pr. pi. talk, prate, F 220. 
langlere, j. prater, babbler, A 560. 
langlest, -z pr. s. chatterest, B 774. 
langling, ^. prating, idle talking, disputing, F 

257; langiinge, I 649. 
lape, J. a trick, B 1629. 

Ia.T?e,ger. to jest, H 4; lapen, v. to jest, B 1883. 
Ich, pers. pron. I, B 39. 
Idus, J. pi. ides, F 47. 
leet, s. jet, B 4051. 
let, J. fashion, mode, A 682. 
lewerye, j. Jewry, Jews' quarter, B 1679. 
Ignotum, s. an unknown thing, G 1457. 
V£.,pro7i. I, A 3867. 
Il-hayl, ill-luck to you, A 4089. 
Impertinent, adj. not pertinent, irrelevant, E 54. 
Importable, adj. intolerable, insufferable, E 

1 1 44. 
Impresse, /r. //. force themselves (upon), make 

an impression (upon), G 1071. 
Impressioun, J. impression, remembrance, F 371. 
\Q.,prep. into, B 119. 
In, s. inn, lodging, B 1097. 
Induracioun, s. hardening, G 855. 
Infect,//, invalidated, A 320. 
infortunat, adj. unfortunate, inauspicious, B 

302. 
Infortune, .y. misfortune, B 3591. 
Ingot, s. an ingot, a mould for pouring metal 

into, G 1206. 
Inne, adv. in, B 3193; within, G 880. 
Inne, prep, in, F 578. 
Inned,//. housed, A 2192. 
In-with, /r^/. within, B 1794; E 870. 
loie, .y. joy, B 3964. See loye. 
lolif, adj. joyful, A 3355. 
lolitee, joviality, C 780; F 278; amusement, B 

2033; enjoyment, F 344. 
lolynesse, .s-. festivity, F 289. 
lordanes, s. pi. chamber-pots, C 305. 
loye, J. joy. See loie. 
Irons, adj. passionate, D 2086. 
lubbe, 5. jug, A 3628. 
lugement, .s. opinion, B 1038. 
lusten, V. joust, H 42. 
luyse, s. justice, judgment, B 795. 



Karf . See Kerve. 

Kechil, s. cake, D 1747. 

Kembde, pt. s. combed, F 560; Kembd, //. E 

379- 
Kempe, adj. shaggy, A 2134. 
Kene, adj. bold, B 3439; F 57. 
Kepe, .r. heed, E 1058; taken kepe, take heed, 

F348. 
Kepe, V. keep, preserve; / kepe ha7i, I care to 

have, G 1368; Kepte,//. .y. kept, E 223; pt. pi. 

regarded, tended, B 269; Kepeth, ttiip. pi. keep 

ye, B 764; pr. s. keeps, E 1133; observes, F 

516; Keping, pres. part, keeping, tending, F 

651; Kept,//. E 1098. 
Kerchef , s. kerchief, B 837. 
Kerve, v. to carve, cut, F 158. 
Kerver, j. carver, A 1899. 
Kesse, v. to kiss, E 1057; Keste, pt. s. kissed, 

F 350; Kiste, E 679. See Kist. 
Kid. SeeKythe. 
Kimelin, j. brewing-tub, A 3548. 
Kin, i^. kindred, race, G 829; som kin, of some 

kind, B 1137. 
Kist, kissed; beeti they kist, they have kissed 

each other, B 1074. 
Kitte,//. s. cut, B 600, 1761. 
Knarre, s. a knotted, thick-set fellow, A 549. 
Knarry, adj. gnarled, A 1977. 
Knave, j. boy, servant-lad, B 474; boy, male, E 

444; knave child, man-child, boy, E 612; 

Knaves, //. boys, lads, B 3087 ; Knave, as adj. 

ma'e, B 722. 
Knitte, ger. to knit, I 47; Knittest thee, 2 /r. s. 

rejl. knittest thyself, joinest thyself, art in con- 
junction, B 307; Knit,//, knit, B 3224. 
Knokked,//. s. knocked, B 3721. 
Knotte, s. knot, principal point of a story, gist 

of a tale, F 401, 407. 
Knowe, //. known, F 215; Knowen, 2 pr. pi. 

ye know, B 128; Knowestow, knowest thou, 

B367. 
Knowe, J. knee; Knowes,//. B 1719. 
Knowleching, j. knowing, knowledge, G 1432. 
Konning, j. cunning, skill, F 251. 
Kyked,//. .y. peeped, A 3445. 
Kyte, .r. kite (bird), F 624. 
Kythe, pr. s. sjibj. may show, B 636; Kythed, 

//. shown, G 1054. 



L. 



Laas, J. lace, band, G 574. 

Labbing, pres. part, blabbing, babbling, E 

2428. 
Labour, .r. endeavor, B 381. 
Lacerte, j. muscle, A 2753. 
Lachesse, s. negligence, I 720. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



349 



Ladde, pt. s. conducted, B 3747. 

Lafte, pt. s. ceased, B 3496; i //. s. I left, C 

762. 
Lake, s. a kind of fine white linen cloth, B 2048. 
Lakked, pt. s. wanted, lacked; him lakked, 

there lacked to him, i.e. he lacked, F 16; Lak- 

keth,/r-. s. lacks, G 498. 
Lampe, 5. lamina, thin plate, G 764. 
Langour, j. languishment, slow starvation, B 

3597- 
Lappe, J. lap, fold of the dress, F 441 ; skirt or 

lappet of a garment, G 12; a wrapper, E 585. 
Lasse, adj. less, C 602; adj. pi. smaller, of less 

rank ; lasse and more, smaller and greater, 

i e. all, E 67. 
Last, s. pi. lasts, i.e. burdens, loads, B 1628. 
Lat, let; lat take, let us take, G 1254. 
Late, adj. late; bet than 7iever is late, G 1410. 
Latitude, i. latitude (in an astronomical sense) , 

B13. 
Laton, s. latten, or latoun, a mixed metal, 

closely resembling brass, B 2067. 
Latoun, J. a kind of brass, C 350. 
Launcegay, ^. a kind of lance, B 1942. 
Laureat, adj. laureate, crowned with laurel, B 

3886; E 31. 
Lay, J. song, lay, B 1959; religious belief, faith, 

creed, B 572; F 18. 
Lazar, s. leper, A 242. 
Lede, V. to govern, B 434; pr. s. subj. may 

bring, B 357. See Ladde. 
Leden, adj. leaden, G 728. 
Ledene, .s. dat. language, talk, F 435. 
Leed, .y. lead, G 406; leaden vessel, A 202. 
Leef , adj. dear, precious, G 1467 ; yo%v so lee/, 

so dear to you, so desired by you, C 760. See 

Leve. 
Leef, adv. dear; Lever, co)7ip. dearer, liefer, F 

572- 

Leef, J. a leaf, E 121 1. 

Leefful, adj. lawful, I 41. 

Leefsel, s. bower, I 411. 

Leek, J. leek, i.e. thing of small value, G 795. 

Lees, J. leash, G 19. 

Leet, pt. s. let, caused (to be), B 959; /;«/. j. 
let, C 731; //. .y. let, E 82; caused, as in leet 
don cry en, caused to be proclaimed, F 45 ; leet 
viake, caused to be made, B 3349; leetbinde, 
caused to be bound, B 1810. See Lat, Lete. 

Lefte, I //. s. I left off, F 670. 

Lemman, s. lover; lit. dear man, B 917; sweet- 
heart, B 3253. 

Lendes, j. //. loins, A 3237. 

Lene, adj. lean, B 4003. 

Lene, ^^r. to lend, G 1024, 1037. 

Lenger, adv. comp. longer; ever lenger the 
more, the longer, the more, E 687; F 404. 

Lente, s. Lent, E 12. 



Leos, .y. //. people, G 103, 106. 

Leoun, s. lion, B 475; G 178. 

Lepardes, s. pi. leopards, B 3451. 

Lepe, pr. pi. leap, G 915. 

Lere, j. flesh, skin, B 2047. 

Lere, v. leam, B 1702; pr. pi. learn, F 104; 
ger. to learn, B 181 ; pr. s. subj. may learn, 
G607. 

Lerne,^t'r. to teach, G 844; Lerned of, taught 
by, G 748. 

Lerned,//. as adj. learned, B 1168. 

Lerninge, s. instruction, G 184. 

Lesinge, s. losing, loss ; /or lesinge, for fear of 
losing, B 3750. 

Lest, J. desire, E 619. 

Leste, adj. superl. as s. least; atte leste, at 
the least, at least, B 38. 

Let,//, s. caused, permitted, B 373. See Lat. 

Lete, V. let, B 3524; forsake, B 325; i pr. s. I 
leave, B 96. See Lat, Leet. 

Lette, V. to hinder, delay; used intrans. to 
cause delay, B 1117; to hinder, B 2116; to 
oppose, stay, B 3306; pt. s. intrans. delayed, 
E389. 

Lette, s. let, impediment, hindrance, delay, E 
300. 

Letterure, s. literature, B 3686; literature, book- 
lore, G 846. 

Lettres, s. pi. letters, B 736. 

Letuarie, s. electuary, C 307. 

Leve, V. believe; Levestow, believest thou, G 
212. 

Leve, z/. to leave, give up, E 250; ger. to for- 
sake, G 287. 

Leve, 3 imp. s. (God) grant, B 1873. 

Leve, adj. voc. beloved, G 257; //. dear, val- 
ued, F 341. See Leef. 

Leveful, adj. permissible, praiseworthy, allow- 
able, G 5. 

Lever, adj. cofnp. liefer, dearer, more desirable, 
B3628; rather; me 7uere lever, it would be 
dearer to me, I had rather, C 615. 

Levesel, j. leafy bower, A 4061. 

Lewedly, adv. ignorantly, B 47; ignorantly, 
ill, G 430; H 59. 

Leye, v. to lay a wager, bet, G 596; ipr.pl. 
we lay out, we expend, G 783; Leyden forth, 
pt. pi. brought forward, B 213. 

Leyt, s. flame, lightning, I 839. 

Ilia., put /or Lat. Lia, i.e. Leah in the book of 
Genesis, G 96. 

Libel, s. bill of complaint, D 1595. 

Licentiat, one licensed by the Pope to hear con- 
fessions, independently of the local ordinaries, 
A 220. 

Liche, adj. like; it liche, like it, F 62. 

Liche-wake, j. corpse-watch, A 2958. 

LiCOUr, s. juice, C 452. 



350 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



I 



Lief, adj. dear, cherished, E 479; goode lief my 

•wyf, my dear good wife, B 3084. See Leef . 
Ligeaunce, s. allegiance, B 895. 
Liggen, V. to lie, lie down, B 2101. 
LikerouS, adj. gluttonous, dainty, greedy, C 540. 
Limitour, s. licensed beggar, A 209. 
Linage, s. lineage, kindred, B 999. 
Lind, J. lime-tree, A 2922. 
Linde, j. linden-tree, E 1211. 
Lipsed,/i?. s. lisped, A 264. 
List, s. ear, D 634. 
Listen, /r. //. list, choose, B 2234. 
Listeth, imp. pi. listen ye, B 1902, 2023. 
Litarge, ^. litharge, G 775. 
Lite, adj. little, B 109. See Lyte. 
Litherly, adv. badly, A 3299. 
Liveree, s. livery, A 363. 
Livestow,/i7r livest thou, C 719. 
Lixt, liest, D 1618. 
Lode, s. load, A 2918. 
Lodemenage, j. pilotage, A 403. 
Lode-Sterre, s. lodestar, A 2059. 
Lofte, s. dat. air; on lofte, in the air, B 277. 
Logge, ^. a lodging, B 4043. 
Lokeden, //. pi. looked ; Loked, //. s. looked, 

E 340; Loketh, iinp. pi. look ye, behold, G 

1329; search ye, C 578. 
Loken, //. locked, enclosed, B 4065. 
LokkeS, locks of hair, A 81. 
LoUer, s. a loUer, a lollard, B 1173. 
Lond, s. land; country, B 3548; Londe, land, 

B 522. 
Lone, s. loan, D 1861. 
Long, prep.; the phrase wher-on . . . long= 

long 071 wher, along of what, G 930; long on, 

along of, because of, G 922. 
Longe, adv. long, a long while, B 1626, 3300. 
Longes, s. pi. lungs, A 2752. 
Longing for, i.e. belonging to, suitable for, F 39. 
Loos, s. praise, G 1368. 
Looth, adj. loath, displeasing; me were looth, 

it would be displeasing to me, B 91. 
Lordings, s. pi. sirs, B 573; C 329; I 15. 
Lore, s. study, G 842; lore, learning, experience, 

knowledge, B 4, 1168; E 87, 788. 
Lorel, s. rascal, D 273. 
Los, J. loss, B 27, 28; F 450. 
Los. See Loos. 

Losengerie, .r. flattery, false praise, I 613. 
Losten, pt. pi. lost, G 398. 
'LQXmg'S!,pres. part, lurking, G i86. 
Loude, def. adj. loud, F 268. 
Lough, pt. s. laughed, B 3740. 
Louke, s. fellow-rascal, A 4415. 
Loute, V. to bow down, B 3352. 
Loveden,//. //. loved; Lovede, //. s. loved, E 

413; Loveth, imp. pi. love ye, E 370. 
Love-drury, s. afifection, B 2085. 



Lovere, s. a lover, F 546. 

Loves, s. pi. loaves, B 503. 

Lovyere, s. lover, A 80. 

Lowe, adv. in a low voice, F 216. 

Luce, J. pike, A 350. 

Lucre, s. lucre, gain; lucre of vilanye, vil- 

lanous lucre, vile gain, B 1681; profit, G 1402. 
LuUeth, pr. s. lulls, soothes, B 839. 
Luna, J. the moon, G 826; a name for silver, G 

1440. 
Lunarie, j. lunary, moon-wort, G 800. 
Lure, .y. a hawk's lure, the bait by which a hawk 

was tempted to return to the fowler's hand, 

H72. 
Lust, pr. s. iiiipers. it pleases, E 322; Luste, 

pe?'s. was pleased, desired, G 1344- 
Lustier, adj. comp. more joyous, G 1345. 
Lustinesse, s. pleasure, A 1939. 
Lusty, adj. jocund, F 272; lusty, H 41. 
Lyard, adj. gray, D 1563. 
Lycorys, j. licorice, B 1951, 2045. 
Lyf, s. life; his lyf, during his life, B 3369. 
Lyfly, adv. in a lifelike way, A 2087. 
Lyk. See Liche. 
Lyke, to please; Lyken, v. to please, B 2128; 

Lyketh, /;-. .r. it pleases, E 311; us lyketh 

yow, it pleases us with respect to you, E 106; 

how lyketh thee my wyf how does it please 

you with respect to my wife, E 1031 ; Lykned, 

//. likened, compared, B 91. 
Lyking, s. pleasure, liking, delight, B 3499. 
Lyklihede, ^. likelihood, probability, B 1786. 
Lym, J. lime, G 910. 
Lymaille, s. filings of any metal, G 1162; 

Lymail, G 1164. 
Lymrod, s. lime-rod, lime-twig, B 3574. 
Lyte, adv. in a small degree, G 632, 699. See 

Lite. 

Lyve, dat. from Lyf, whence on lyve, during 

life, i.e. alive, F 423. 
Lyves, s. pi. geii. souls', lives', G 56; Lyves, 

gen. sing, used as adi'. living, E 903. 
Lyvinge, s. manner of life, C 847. 



Maad, pp. made, B 3607. 

Mace, s. a mace, club, B 2003. 

Maille, s. mail, ringed armor, E 1202, 

Maister, s. master, B 1627, 3128. 

Maister-tour, j. principal tower, F 226. 

Maistres, s. pi. masters, B 141. 

Maistrye, s. mastery, victory, B 3582; gover- 
nance, control, B 3689; Maistrie, a masterly 
operation, G 1060. 

Make, s. mate, wife, B 700; husband, G 224, 

Maked,//f. s. made, B 3318; //. B 1722; Maad, 
B 3607; Makestow, i.e. makest thou, B 371. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



351 



Male, s. bag, wallet, C 920; G 566. 

Malefice, j. evil-doing, I 341. 

Malisoun, j. curse, G 1245. 

Malliable, adj. malleable, such as can be worked 

by the hammer, G 1130. 
Man, J. man, esp. a devoted servant, one who 

has vowed homage, B 3331 ; used /or one, 

B43. 
Manace, s. menace, A 2003. 
Manasinge, j. threatening, A 2035, 
Manere, j. manner; of manere, in his be'^'vior, 

F 546; itianer pley, kind of game, C 627; 

maner chaunce, kind of luck, G 527. 
Mannish, adj. man-like, i.e. unwomanly, B 782. 
Mansioun, s. mansion (a term in astrology), 

F 50. 
Manye, s. mania, A 1374. 
Marbul, i-. marble, F 500. 
Marbul-stones, s. pi. blocks of marble, B 1871. 
Marchaunt, j. merchant, B 132. 
Marie, interj. marry, i.e. by St. Mary, G 1062. 
Maried, pt. s. Gratis, he caused to be married, 

E 1130. 
Mark, s. a piece of money, of the value of 13 s. 

4 d. in England, G 1026; Mark,//, i.e. marks, 

C390. 
Market-beter, s. bully at fairs, A 3936. 
Markis, s. a marquis, E 64. 
Markisesse, s. a marchioness, E 394. 
Mary, i'. marrow, C 542. 
Mary-bones, s. pi. marrow-bones, A 380. 
Masednesse, s. amaze, E 1061. 

Maselyn, s. a kind of drinking-cup, B 2042. 
Mat, adj. struck dead, defeated utterly, B 935. 
MatereS,//. materials (of a solid character), G 

779; Matires, gefi. pi. of the materials, G 770. 
Maugree, prep, in spite of; maugree Philis- 

iiens, in spite of the Philistines, B 3238. 
Maumetrye, s. Mahometamsm, B 236. 
Maunciple, s. manciple, H 25; I i. 
Mawe, s. maw, stomach, B 486. 
May, s. maiden, B 851. 
Mayde, j. maid, maiden, B 1636. 
Maydenhede, s. maidenhood, G 126. 
Mayntene, pr. s. itnp. may he maintain, E 1171, 
Maystrye. See Maistrye. 
Mede, s. mead, drink, B 2042. 
Mede, i-. reward, a bribe, B 3579. 
Medle, v. meddle, take part in, G 1184; Med- 

leth, ivip. pi. meddle, G 1424. 
Medlee, adj. of mixed stuff, A 328. 
Meel, s. meal, B 466. 
Meiny. See Meynee. 

Memorie, s. mention, remembrance, B 3164. 
MendinantS, s. pi. begging friars, D 1906. 
Menestow, meanest thou, G 309. 
Mening, s. meaning, intent, F 151. 
Mere, s, mare, A 541. 



Meridional, adj. southern, F 263. 

Merier, adj. pleasanter, B 2024. 

Mervaille, s. marvel, wonder, E 1186; Mer- 
veille, E 248; vterveille of, wonder at, F 87. 

Merveillous, adj. marvellous, B 1643. 

Meschaunce, s. misery, a miserable condition, 
B 3204; with meschaunce, with ill luck (to 
him), H II. 

Mescheef, s. tribulation, trouble, H 76; Mes- 
chief, misfortune, B 3513. 

Mesel, J. leper, I 624. 

Messager, s. messenger, B 6. 

Messe, s. mass, B 1413. 

Meste, adj. superl. most, i.e. highest in rank, 
most considerable, E 131. 

Mester, .y. occupation, A 1340. 

Mesurable, adj. moderate, C 515; F 362. 

Met, .y. measure, I 799. 

Metamorphoseos, gen. s. (the book) of Meta- 
morphosis; it should be //. Metamorphoseon, 
B93- 

Mete, s. food, meat, F 173, 618. 

Meth, s. mead, a drink, A 2279. 

Meynee, s. followers, army, B 3532; attendants, 
suite, F 391. 

Milksop, s. a piece of bread sopped in milk; 
hence, anything soft, especially a weak, effem- 
inate man, B 3100. 

Minde, dal. memory, B 527 ; in minde, in re- 
membrance, B 1843. 

Ministre, s. minister, B i68. 

Minstralcye, ^. minstrelsy, a playing upon 
instruments of music, the sound made by a 
band of minstrels, F 268. 

Miracle, j. miraculous story, legend, B 1881. 

Mirre, .y. myrrh, A 2938. 

Mirthe, j. pleasure, amusement, A 766. 

Mis, adj. amiss, wrong, blameworthy, G 999. 

Misbileve, s. belief of trickery, suspicion, G 
1213. 

Misboden,//. abused, harmed, A 909. 

Misdeparteth, pr. s. parts or divides amiss, B 
107. 

Misdooth, pr. s. doeth amiss to, ill-treats, B 
3112. 

Misgovemaunce, s. misconduct, B 3202. 

Misgyed, //. misguided, misconducted, B 3723. 
See Gye. 

Mishap, 5-. ill luck, B 3435. 

Mislay, pt. s. lay awry, A 3647. 

Mister, s. craft, A 613; what mister men, 
what manner of men, A 1710. 

Mistriste, v. mistrust, C 369. 

Miteyn, s. mitten, glove, C 372. 

Mo; tytnes mo, at more times, at other times, 
E 449; mo, more than her, others, E 1039; 
othere jno, others besides, G looi ; na mo, no 
more, none else, B 695. See More. 



352 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Moche, adj. much, G 6ii; many, G 673. 
Modres, ^^«. mother's, C 729; G 1243. 
Moebles, j. pi. movable goods, personal prop- 
erty, G 540. 
Moeved, //. s. moved, disturbed, B 1136. 
Moevere, s. mover, A 2987. 
Molliflcacioun, j. mollifying, softening, G 

854- 

Mone, gen. moon's, B 2070; Mones,^^«. moon's, 
I 10. 

Monstres, s. pi. monsters, B 3302. 

Moorning, s. mourning, B 621. 

Moot. See Mot. 

Moralitee, s. morality, B 3687; moral tale, I 
38. 

Mordred, //. murdered, E 725. 

Mordring, j. murdering, A 2001. 

More, //. more and lesse, greater and lesser, 
all alike, B 3433. 

More, adv. more, further, in a greater degree, 
B 3745- 

Mormal, j. cancer, sore, or gangrene, A 386. 

Morne, adj. morning, A 358. 

Morsel, s. a morsel; morsel breed, morsel of 
bread, B 3624. 

Mortifye,z'. to mortify; lit. to kill; used of pro- 
ducing change by chemical action, G 1431. 

Mortreux, a kind of soup or pottage, A 384. 

Morwe, s. morrow, morning; by the morwe, in 
the morning, early in the day, H 16. 

Mosel, J. muzzle, A 2151. 

Mot; 7tiot I theen^ may I thrive, C 309; foule 
moot thee falle, foully {i.e. ill) may it hap- 
pen to thee, H 40; Moste, us moste, it must 
be for us, i.e. it should be our resolve, G 946; 
Moot, I pr. s. I must, E 872; Mote, .yM^/'. >* 
7note I thee, may I thrive, B 2007. 

Mottelee, j. motley, A 271. 

Motyf , s. motive, incitement, B 628. 

Moulen, %>. moulder, B 32. 

Mountance, .y. amount, quantity, C 863. 

Mowled,//. grown mouldy, A 3870. 

Moyste, adj. fresh, new, B 1954. 

Moysty, adj. new (applied to ale), H 60. 

Muchel, adj. much, a great deal of, F 349. 

Mullok, J. rubbish, refuse, confused heap of 
materials, G 938, 940. 

Multiplicacioun, s. multiplying, i.e. the art of 
alchemy, G 849. 

Multiplye, v. to make gold and silver by the 
arts of alchemy, G 669, 731. 

Murthe, s. mirth, joy, E 1123. ^ 

Murye, adj. merry, A 1386. 

Myle, J. //. miles, G 555. 

Myn, poss. mine, my (used before a vowel), B 
40; (used after a name), E 365. 

Mynour, s. miner, A 2465. 

Myte, s. mite, thing of no value, G 511, 633. 



W. 



Naddre, s. adder, E 1786. 

Nadstow, hadst thou not, A 4088. 

Naille, imp. s. 3 /. let it nail, let it fasten, E 1184. 

Naked,//, as adj. destitute, void, weak, G 486. 

Nakers, s. pi. drums, A 2511. 

Nale ; atte nale, at the ale-house, D 1349. 

Nam,/^. s. took, G 1297. 

Namely, adv. especially, C 402. 

Na-mo.y^r Na mo, no more, F 573; Na-more, 
F289 

Nappeth, pr. s. naps, slumbers, nods, H 9. 

T^diXt,/or Ne art, art not, G 499. 

"Nat, /or Ne at, nor at, B 290. 

Nath,/^r Ne hath, hath not, A 923. 

Naught, adv. not, B 1701 ; not so, G 269. 

Nay, opposed to yea, E 355; answers a direct 
question, B 1793; it is no nay, there is no de- 
nying it, B 1956. 

Nayles, .y. //. nails, B 3366. 

Nayte, v. say no to, deny, I 1013. 

Ne, adv. not; ne dcoth, do ye not, C 745. 

Nede, adv. necessarily, needs, G 1280. 

Nede, V. to be necessary, B 871; Nedeth,/r. s. 
needs it, it needs, F 65; Neded, //. s. it 
needed, E 457. 

Nedes, s. pi. necessary things, business, B 174; 
needs, G 178. 

Nedes-COSt, adv. of necessity, A 1477. 

Nedles, 5. geii. needle's, G 440. 

Needles, adv. needlessly, E 621 ; Needless, with- 
out a cause, E 455. 

Neen, adj. none, no, A 4185. 

Neer, adj. nearer, G 721. 

Neet, .y. neat, cattle, A 597. 

Neigh, adj. near, nigh, F 49. 

Nekke-boon, .y. nape of the neck, lit. neck-bone, 
B 669, 1839. 

Kempnen, v. to name, B 507; Nempne, v. to 
name, tell, F 318. 

Ner, adv. comp. nearer; ner and ner, nearer 
and nearer, B 1710. 

Nercotikes, s. pi. narcotics, A 1472, 

Nere, /^. s. subj. were not {put /or ne were), 

B547- 

Nest, s. nest; ivikked nest, i.e. tnau ni, or 
Mauny, B 3576. 

Nevene, pr. pi. subj. may name, may mention, 
G 1473- 

Never, adv. never, B 87; never the neer, never 
the nearer, none the nearer, G 721. 

Neveradel, adv. not a bit, C 670. 

Nevew, s. nephew, B 3594. 

Newfangel, adj. newfangled, taken with nov- 
elty, F 618. 

New-fangelnesse, s. fondness for novelty, F 
610. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



353 



Kexte, adj. Slip, nearest, B 1814. 

Nigard, ^. niggard, B 4105. 

Nightei'-tale, the night-time, A 97. 

Nigromanciens, s. pi. magicians, I 603. 

Nil, I /r. J. I desire not, I dislike, E 646. 

Nin,/<7r Ne in, nor in, F 35. 

Nobles, //. nobles (the coin worth 6s. Zd.), C 
907. 

Noblesse, j. nobility, magnificence, B 3438; 
high honor, B 3208. 

Nobley, i-. nobility, assembly of nobles, G 449; 
state, F 77. 

Noght, adv. not, B 94, 112. 

Nombre, s. number, A 716. 

Nome, //. of Nimen. 

Nones, for the, for the once, for this special oc- 
casion, for the nonce, B 1165. 

Nonnes, 5^. //. gen. nuns', B 3999. 

Noon, adj. none, B 102; //. B 89. 

Noot, for Ne wot, i pr. s. I know not, B 892. 

Norishinge, j. nurture, bringing up, E 1040. 

Nortelrye, s. good manners, A 3967. 

Nose-thirles, //. nostrils, A 557. 

Not. See Noot. 

Notabilitee, j. a thing worthy to be known, B 

4399- 
Notable, adj. notorious, B 1875. 
Note, J. note (of music), B 1737. 
Note, s. need, business, A 4068. 
Notemuge, 5-. nutmeg, B 1953. 
Not-heed, 5-. crop-head, A 109. 
No-thing, adzi. in no respect, B 575; not at all, 

C 404- 
Notifyed,//. made known, proclaimed, B 256. 
Nouthe, now; as nonthe, at present, A 462. 
Now and now, adv. at times, from time to 

time, occasionally, F 430. 
Nowches, 5-. //. jewels, E 382. 
Ny, adv. nigh, nearly; ivel ity, almost, E 82, 
Nyce, adj. foolish, weak, B 1088. 
Nycetee, j. folly, G 463. 



0. 



0, adj. one, B 52. See Oo. 

Obeisant, adj. obedient, E 66. 

Obeisaunce, s. obedience, E 24, 502; obedient 

act, E 230; Obeisaunces, //. submissive acts, 

acts expressing obedient attention, F 515. 
Observe, v. to give countenance to, favor, B 

1821. 
Occident, s. West, B 297. 
Occupye, v. to occupy, take up, F 64; Occu- 

pieth,/r. J. takes up, dwells in, B 424. 
Octogamye, s. marrying eight times, D 33. 
Of, adv. off, away, B 3748. 
Oi,prep. during, B 510; with, G 626; by, E 70; 

with, for, B 1779; E 33; as regards, with re- 



spect to, B go; oj grace, by his favor, out of 
his favor, E 178. 

Offensioun, offence, damage, A 2416. 

Office, s. duty, employment, B 3446; hoi/ses of 
office, servants' offices, pantries, larders, etc., 
E 264. 

Offreth, imp. pi. 2 p. offer ye, C 910. 

Of-newe. adv. newly, lately, E 938. 

Of-taken,//. taken off, taken away, B 1855. 

Ofte, adv. often, B 278; Ofter, oftener, E 215. 

Ofte, adj. pi. rnany, frequent, E 226. 

Oghte, pt. s. became; as him oghte, as it be- 
came him, B 1097; pt. s. subj. it should behove 
us, E 1 150. See Oughte. 

Oistre, s. oyster, A 182. 

Oliveres, j. //. olive yards, B 3226. 

On, prep, upon, concerning, B 48; on, in, at; 
071 eve, in the evening; on morwe, in the 
morning, E 1214; oji reste, at rest, F 379. 

On, adj. one; everich on, every one, B 1164. 
See 0, Oon. 

Ones, adv. once, B 588; of one mind, united in 
design, C 696; at ones, at once, H 10. 

On-lofte, adv. aloft, i.e. still above ground, E 
229. 

Oo, adj. one, G 207. See 0, Oon. 

Oon; one and the same, C 333; that oon, the 
one, C 666; the same, B 2142; the same thing, 
alike, F 537; oon the faireste, one who was 
the fairest, one of the fairest, E 212; ever in 
oon, continually alike, constantly in the same 
manner, E 602; m.any oon, many a one, E 

775- 
Open-ers, .y. fl. medlars, A 3871. 
Open-heeded,//, bareheaded, D 645. 
Oppresse, v. to put down, G 4. 
Or, adv. ere, before, G 314. 

Ordenaunce, s. ordaining, governance, arrange- 
ment, B 763; provision, B 250. 
Ordeyned,//. appointed, F 177. 
Ordre, j. order, class, G 995. 
Organs, s. pi. " organs," the old equivalent of 

organ, G 134. 
Orient, the East, B 3504. 
Orpiment, s. orpiment, G 759, 774, 823. 
Osanne, i.e. Hosannah, B 642 
Otes, .y. //. oats, C 375. 
Othere, adj. pi. other, B 3344; Other, sing.; 

•whence that other = the other, answering to 

that oon= the one, F 496. 
Otheres, pron. sing, each other's, lit. of the 

other, C 476. 
Otherweyes, adv. otherwise, E 1072. 
Otherwyse, adv. on any other condition, F 534. 
Othes, s. pi. oaths, C 472; F 528. 
Ouche, s. jewel, D 743. 
Oughte. pt. s. S7ibj. it would become, as in 

oughte us = it would become us, it would 



354 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



be our duty, G 14; Oghten, xpt. pi. we ought, 
G 6; Oghte, //. s. indie, it was fit, it was due, 
E 1120. 

Oules, s. pi. awls, D 1730. 

Ounces, s.pl. small pieces, A 677. 

Out-caughte, pt. s. caught out, drew out, B 
1861. 

Outen, V. to come out with, utter, display, ex- 
hibit, E2438; G834. 

Outerly, adv. utterly, entirely, G 335. 

Out-hees, j. hue and cry, A 2012. 

Outrageous, adj. violent, excessive, C 650. 

Outraye, v. pass beyond control, E 643. 

Outrely, adv. utterly, C 849. 

Out-taken,//, excepted (lit. taken out), B 277. 

Oversloppe, s. upper garment, G 633. 

Owene, adj. own, B 3198; pi. B 3584. 

Oweth,/^-. .y. owneth, owns, possesses, C 361. 

Oxes, gen. sijig. ox's, E 207. 

Oxe-stalle, s. ox-stall, E 398. 

Oynement, s. ointment, A 631. 

Oynons, s. pi. onions, A 634. 



Paas, s. pace, step, G 575; goon a paas, go at a 

footpace, C 866. 
Pace; to pace of, to pass from, B 205; 1 pr. s. 

subj. er I pace= ere I depart, ere I die, F 494; 

pr. s. siibj. may pass away, may depart, E 

1092. 
Palinge, s. the making a perpendicular stripe, 

1417- 
Palled, adj. enfeebled, languid, H 55. 
Pan, s. brain-pan, skull, A 1165. 
Panade, j. knife, A 3929. 
Panne, s. a pan, G 1210. 
Papeer, s. pepper, G 762. 
Papeiay, s. a popinjay, a parrot, B 1957. 
Paradys, .y. paradise, heaven, B 3200. 
ParamentS, j. //. rich array, A 2501. 
Paramour, i.e. par amour, for love, B 2033. 
Paraventure, adv. peradventure, perhaps, B 

190; by chance, E 234. 
Parde! interj. answering to F. par Dieu ; 

Pardee, B 1977; E 1234. 
Pardoner, .s. seller of indulgences, A 543. 
Parfay, interj. by my faith, B no; by my faith, 

verily, B 849. 
Parfit, adj. perfect, G 353. 
Parfournest, 2 /r. s. performest, B 1797; Par- 

fourned, //. B 1646. 
Parisshens, s.pl. parishioners, A 482. 
Paritorie, s. pellitory, Parietaria officinalis, 

G581. 
Parlement, .y. parliament, deliberation, A 1306. 
Parting-felawes, j. //. partners, I 637. 
Party, s. part, portion, B 17. 



Parvys, s. church-porch, A 310. 

Pas, .y. pace, B 399; Pas, //. paces, movements, 
B 306. See Paas. 

Passant, adj. surpassing, A 2107. 

Passe, imp.s. or pi. pass (over), go (on), pro- 
ceed, B 1633; Passe of, i pr. s. pass by, F 
288; Passeth, pr, s. passes away, F 404; 
Passed, //. past, spent, E 610; Passing, /r<'j. 
part, surpassing, extreme, E 240. See Pace. 

Passing, adj. surpassing, excellent, G 614. 

Passioun, s. passion, suffering, B 1175. 

Pax, s. a painted tablet kissed during the cele- 
bration of mass, I 407. 

Payens,//. pagans, B 534. 

Payndemayn, s. bread of a peculiar whiteness, 
B 1915. 

Pecunial, adj. pecuniary, D 1314. 

Pees, .y. peace, B 130; in pees, in silence, B 228. 

Pees, /«^(?^7'. peace! hush! B 836; G 951. 

Pekke, to pick, B 4157. 

Penaunt, s. a penitent, one who does penance, 

B 3124. 
Penible, adj. painstaking, careful to please, E 714. 
Penner, j. pen-case, E 1879. 
Penoun, a pennant or ensign borne at the end of 

a lance, A 978. 
Pens, s.pl. pence, C 402. 
Peraventure, adv. perhaps, perchance, C 935. 

See Paraventure. 
Perce, Percen, v. to pierce, B 2014. 
Percinge, j. piercing; for percinge, to prevent 

any piercing, B 2052, 
Perdurable, adj. lasting, I 75. 
Pere, .y. peer, equal, B 3244; F 678. 
Peregryn, adj. peregrine, i.e. foreign, F 428. 
Pere-ionette, j. pear-tree, A 3248. 
Perfit, adj. perfect, A 1271. See Parfit. 
Perissed,//. destroyed, I 579. 
Perree, s. jewelry, precious stones, gems, B 

3495- 
Pers, of a sky-blue color, A 439. 
Perseveraunce, s. continuance, G 443. 
Persevereth, /r. jr. lastcth, C 497. 
Perseveringe, j. perseverance, G 117. 
Person, s. parson, I 23; Persone, B 1170; Per- 

soun, A 478. 
Perturben,/r^j. //. disturb, A 906. 
Peter, i^iterj. by St. Peter, G 665. 
Peyne, s. pain, suffering, B 2134; trouble, care, 

F 509; upon peyne, under a penalty, E 586. 
Peyne, i pr. s. rejl. I peyne me = I take pains, 

C 330; Peyned hir, pt. s. reJl. took pains, E 

976 ; Peyneth hir, pr. s. reJl. endeavors, B 320. 
Peyre, .y. pair, A 2121. 
Peytrel, j. properly, the breastplate of a horse 

in armor, G 564. 
Pigges-nye, s. pig's eye, a term of endearment, 

A 3268. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



355 



Pighte, i>t. s. pitched, A 26S9. Pt. t. of Picchen. 

PilOUrS, s. pi. plunderers, A 1007. 

Pilwe-beer, s. pillow-case, A 694. 

Pin, J. pin, small peg, F 127, 316. 

Pinchen, ger. to find fault, H 74. 

Pissemyre, s. ant, D 1825. 

Pistel, s. epistle, E 1154. 

Pitaunce, s. portion of food, A 224. 

Pite, s. pity; Pitee, B 292. 

Pitously, adv. piteously, sadly, pitiably, B 3729. 

Place, s. manor-house, residence of a chief per- 
son in a village or small town, B 1910. 

Plages, s. pi. regions, B 543. 

Piastres, j. //. plasters, F 636. 

Plat, adv. flat, B 1865; flatly, bluntly, B 3947. 

Plate, J. stiff" iron defence for a hauberk, B 2055. 

Platte, adj. dat. flat, flat side (of a sword), F 
162. 

Play. See Pley. 

Playn, adj. plain; iti short and playn, in 
brief plain terms, E 577. 

Playn, j. a plain, B 24; Playne, E 59. 

Pleinte, s. complaint, lament, B 66. 

Plesance, s. pleasing behavior, F 509; Ple- 
saunce, pleasure, will, E 501; kindness, E 
nil. 

Plese, V. please; Plesen, F 707. 

Pley, J. play, sport, diversion, E 10, 1030. 

Pleye, ik to amuse one's self, B 3524, 3666; 
Pleying, pres. pt. amusing herself, F 410. 

Pleyn, adj. plain, clear, B 324. 

Pleyn, adv. plainly, B 3947; openly, E 637. 

Plighte. //. pledged, C 702. 

Plighte,//. plucked, D 790; pt. s. pulled, B 15. 

Plye, V. bend, E 1169. 

Point, .y. point; fro point to point, from begin- 
ning to end, B 3652; poi}tt for point, exactly, 
in every detail, E 577. 

Point-devys, j. point-device, F 560. 

Poke, s. pocket, bag, A 3780. 

Pokets, J. //. pockets, i.e. little bags, G 808. 

Pokkes, s. pi. pocks, pustules, C 358. 

Polcat, .y. polecat, C 855. 

Policye, s. public business, C 600. 

Pollax, s. pole-axe, A 2544. 

Polyve, s. pulley, F 184. 

Pomel, i-. crown, top, A 2689. 

Pomely, adj. dapple ; Pomely-gris, dapple-gray, 

G 559. 

Popelote, s. puppet, A 3254. 

Popet, J. poppet, puppet, doll; spoken ironi- 
cally, and here applied to a corpulent person, 
B 1891. 

Popper, .y. dagger, A 3931. 

Poraille, s. poor folk, A 247. 

Porphurie, s. porphyry, a slab of porphyry used 
as a mortar, G 775. 

Porthors, s. breviary, B 1321. 



Pose, ,y. cold in the head, H 62. 

Possessioners, ,r. //. members of endowed or- 
ders, D 1772. 

Possessioun, j. large property, wealth, F 686. 

Post, s. pillar, support. A 214. 

Potage, J. broth. C 368. 

Potestat, .y. potentate. D 2017. 

Pothecarie, j. apothecary, C 852. 

Poudre. s. powder, G 760. 

Poudre-marchaunt, j. flavoring powder, A 381. 

Pound, //. pounds. F 683. 

Pounsoninge, j. puncturing, I 418. 

Pouped, //. blown, H 90. 

Pouren, i pr. s. we pore, gaze steadily. G 670. 

Poverte, J. poverty, B 99; Povert, C 441. 

Povre, adj. poor, B 116, 120. 

Povre, adv. poorly, E 1043. 

Povreliche, adv. poorly, in poverty, E 213. 

Povrely, adv. poorly, A 1412. 

Povrest. adj. SHperl. poorest, C 449. 

Poynaunt, adj. pungent, A 352. 

Poynt, .y. a stop, G 1480. 

Poyntel, s. pencil, stylus, D 1742. 

Practisour, s. practitioner, A 422. 

Preche, v. to preach, B 1179; Prechen, B 1177; 
Precheth, imp. pi. E 12. 

Predicacioun, s. preaching, sermon, C 345, 407, 

Preef, s. test, proof, G 968; the test, H 75. 

Preferre, pr. s. sitlj. surpass, D 96. 

Preise, i pr. s. I praise, F 674. 

Prescience, s. foreknowledge, E 659. 

Presence, .y. presence; in presence, in com- 
pany, in a large assembly, E 1207. 

Prest, .y. priest, B 1166. 

Preve, v. prove ; bide the test, G 645 ; to prove 
to be right, to succeed when tested, G 1212; 
Preved, //. tested, G 1336; approved, E 28; 
exemplified, E 856; shown, F 481. 

Preyed, //. prayed, E 773; Preye, pr. s. pray, 

B 3995- 
Preyere, ,y. prayer, G 256. 
Pricasour, s. hard rider, A 189. 
Prighte, pt. s. pricked, F 418. 
Priked,- //. spurred, G 561 ; Prighte, //. ,y. F 

418 ; Prike, 2 /. .y. stelj. B 2001 ; Prikke. prick, 

goad, torture, E 1038. 
Prikinge, j. spurring, hard riding. B 1965. 
Prikke, J. prick, point, critical condition, B 119. 
Privee, adj. secret, privy, closely attendant, E 

192; privy, private, secret, B 204. 
Privee, adv. privately, secretly, F 531. 
Prively, adv. secretly, B 21. 
Privetee, s. secret counsel, secrecy, B 548. 
Proces, J', narrative, history, occurrence of 

events, B 3511: proces holde, keep close to 

my story, F 658. 
Profre, -ipr. s. subj. mayst proffer, mayst offer, 

G 489; Profred,//. offered, E 152. 



356 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Probeme, s. a proem, prologue, E 43. 

Prolle, 2 />r. pi. ye prowl, prowl about, search 

widely, G 1412. 
Proporcioned,//. made in proportion, F 192. 
Propre. adj. fiiie, handsome, C 309; own, pecu- 
liar, B 3518; of propre kiiide, by their own 

natural bent, F 610. 
Prospectyves, j. //. perspective glasses, lenses, 

F234. 
Prow, J. profit, advantage, C 300; G 609. 
Prye, v. to pry, look, peer, G 668. 
Pryme, j. the time between 6 and 9 a.m., B 

1278, 4387; fully pryme, the end of the period 

of prime, i.e. nine o'clock, B 2015; pryme 

large, just past nine o'clock, F 360. 
Prymerole, s. primrose, A 3268. 
Prys, J. price, value, estimation, B 2087; fame, 

A 67. 
Pryvee, adj. secret, A 2460. 
Pulle, 7'. pluck; pjille afinche, pluck a pigeon, 

cheat a novice. A 652; Pulled, plucked, A 177. 
Pultrye, j. poultry, A 598. 
Purchace, imp. s. may (He) provide, B 873; 

Purchasen, ger. to purchase, acquire, G 1405. 
Purchasing. .?. prosecuting, A 320. 
Purchasour. s. conveyancer, A 318. 
Purfiled, //. embroidered, fringed, A 193. 
Purged, //. absolved, cleansed (by baptism), 

G 181. 
Purpos. .r. purpose, design, B 170; it cam him 

to purpos. he purposed, F 606. 
Purs. .s. purse. F 148. 
Purtreye, v. draw, A 96. 
Purveyance, s. equipment, B 247; providence, 

B483. 
Putours, s. pi. whoremongers, I 886. 
Pykepurs, .y. pick-purse, A 1998. 
Pyne, .y. suffering, B 1080; pain, suffering, the 

passion, B 2126; woe, torment, B 3420. 
Pype, ,y. pipe, musical instrument, B 2005. 
Pyrie, s. pear-tree, E 2217. 



Quad, adj. bad, B 1628. 

Quaille, J. quail, E 1206. 

Quaking, /r^5-. part, quaking, E 317; Quaked, 

//. B 3831 ; Quook, pt. s. quaked, shook, B 

3394- 
Quakke, .y. hoarseness, A 4152. 
Quelle, V. to kill, C 854; imp. s. may (he) kill, 

G 705. 
Quern, s. hand-mill, B 3264. 
Questemongeres, s. pi. holders of inquests, I 

797- 
Queynte, adj. quaint, curious, F 369. 
Queynte. pt. s was quenched, A 2334. 
QueyntiSe, s. elegance, 1 932; contrivance, I 733 



Quiken,^^r. to make alive, quicken, G 481. 
Quinible, j. a part sung a fifth above the air, A 

3332- 
Quirboilly, .y. boiled leather, B 2065. 
Quit. See Quyte. 

Quitly, adv. freely. A 1792. 

Quook. See Quaking. 

Quyte, V. to acquit, free; hir cost for to quyte, 
to pay for her expenses, B 3564; Quyten, v. 
repay (lit. quit), G 1027; qtiyte with, to re- 
pay . . . with, G 1055; to satisfy, pay in full, 
B 354; quyte hir whyle, requite her time or 
trouble, lit. repay her time, i.e. her occupa- 
tion, pains, trouble, B 584; i pr. s. I requite, 
C 420; Quit,//, freed, G 66. 



Raa, J. roe, A 4086. 

Rad. //. read, G 211. See Rede. 

Rafte, pt. s. reft, B 32S8. Pt. t. and //. of 

Revoi. 
Rage, s. a raging wind, A 1985. 
Rage, V. play, toy wantonly, A 257. 
Raked,//, raked, B 3323. 
Rake-Stele, .y. rake handle, D 949. 
Ram, s. the ram, the sign Aries, F 386. 
Rammish, adj. ramlike, strong-scented, G 887. 
Rampeth, pr. s. (lit. ramps, romps, rears, but 

here) rages, acts with violence, B 3094. 
Rancour, .y. rancor, ill-feeling, H 97; rancor, 

malice, E 432, 747. 
Rape, V. snatch up; 7'ape and renne, seize and 

plunder, G 1422. See Rennc. 
Rasour, s. razor, B 3246. 
Raughte, pt. s. reached, B 1921. 
Raunsoun, .y. ransom, A 1024. 
Rave, I pr. pi. we rave, we speak madly, G 959. 
Ravines, j. //. rapines, I 793. 
Ravysedest, 2 pt. s. didst ravish, didst draw 

(down), B 1659; Ravisshed, //. ravished, 

overjoyed, F 547. 
Reaume, i-. realm, kingdom, B 3305. 
Rebekke, s. abusive term for an old woman, 

D 1573- 
Recche, v. care, reck; recche of it, care for it, 

F71. 
Recchelees, adj. careless, indifferent, B 229. 
Receit, J. receipt; i.e. recipe for making a mix- 
ture, G 1353. 
Receyved. //. accepted (as congenial), accept- 
able, B 307; Receyven, v. to receive, E 1151. 
Reclayme. v. to reclaim, as a hawk by a lure, 

i.e. check, H 72. 
Recomandeth, /r. s. rcfl. commends (herself), 

B 278; Recomende, ^^-r. to commend, commit, 

G 544- 
Reconforte, v. to comfort, A 2853. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



'67 



Recorde, i /r. jr. remember, remind, A 829. 

Recours, j. recourse; / 7vo/ have my recours, 
I will return, F 75. 

Rede, to read; Redeth, imp. //. read, B 3650; 
Rad,//. read, G 211. 

Rede, adj. as s. red, i.e. the blood, B 356; red 
wine, C 526, 562; Rede,//, red, G 1095, 

Redily. adv. quickly, C 667. 

Redoutinge, s. glorifying, A 2050. 

Redresse, v. to set right, E 431. 

Redy, adj. ready, E 299; F 114; dressed, F 387. 

Reed, adj. red, B 452. 

Reednesse, s. redness, G 1097. 

Reflexiouns, s. pi. reflections by means of mir- 
rors, F 230. 

Refuseden, /z". //. refused, E 12S. 

Regne, s. kingdom, realm, dominion, reign, B 
389, 392, 735; Regnes, //. B 129; govern- 
ments, B 3954 

Regned,//. s. reigned, B 3845. 

Rehersaille, .y. enumeration, G 852. 

Reioysed, i pt. s. reji. I rejoiced, E 145. 

Rekne, v. to reckon, account, B 110; ger. to 
reckon, B 158; Rekenen, reckon, count, E 
2433- 

Relees, j. relaxation, ceasing; ojct of relees, 
without ceasing, G 46. 

Relente, v. melt, G 1278. 

Relesse, v. to relieve, relax, B 1069; i /r. s. 
I release, E 153; Released, //. s. forgave, B 

3367- 
Releved,//. made rich again, G 872. 
Reme, s. realm, B 1306. 

Remeveth, imp pi. 2/. remove ye, G 1008. 
Remewed, //. removed, F 181. 
Ren, s. run, A 4079. 
Renably, adv. reasonably, D 1509. 
Rending, j. tearing, A 2834 
Renegat, .?. renegade, apostate, B 932. 
Reneye, v. renounce, deny, abjure, B 376. 
Renges, s. pi ranks, A 2594. 
Renne. ^(?r. to run; rejineth for., runs in favor 

of, B 125; Ronne,//. B 2. 
Renne, v. to ransack, plunder; but only in the 

phrase rape and renne, seize and plunder, G 

1422. See Rape. 
Renovellen,/r^.y. //. renew, I 1027. 
Rente, 5-. rent, i.e. revenue, B 3401. 
Repaire, v. repair, return, F 589; Repaireth, 

pr. s. returns, F 339; goes, B 3885; Repeir- 

\nz,pres. part, returning, F 608. 
Repentaunce, j. penitence, A 1776. 
Repentaunt, adj. penitent, B 228. 
Replet, adj. full, replete, C 489. 
Reportour, .y. reporter, A 814. 
Reprevable (to), adj. reprehensible, C 632. 
Repreve, s. reproof, shame, C 595. 
Resalgar, s. realgar, G 814. 



Rese, V. shake, A 1985. 

Resoun, s. reason, B 3408. 

Resouned,/^ j resounded, F 413. 

Respyt, .?. respite, delay (of death), G 543. 

Reste, .y. rest, F 355. 

Restelees, adj. restless, C 728. 

Retenue, s. retinue, suite, E 270. 

Rethor, s. orator, F 38. 

Rethoryke, .s. rhetoric, E 32. 

Retourneth, imp. pi. return, E 809. 

Retracciouns, j. //. recantations, I 1085. 

Reule, V. to rule; reiile hir, guide her conduct, 

E327. 
Reve, J. steward, bailiff, A 542. 
Reve, to bereave, rob of. See Rafte. 
Revel, J. revelry, E 392. 
RevelOUS. adj. sportive, B 1194. 
Reverence, j. reverence, respect, honor, E 196; 

thy reverence, the respect shown to thee, B 

116. 
Rewe, V. to suffer for, do penance for, G 997; 

Rewen, 7'. to rue, have pity, E 1050. 
Rewel-boon, j. (perhaps) rounded bone; or 

else, rock-crystal, B 2068. 
Rewful, adj. sorrowful, sad, B 854. 
Rewfulleste, adj. step, most sorrowful, A 2886. 
Rewthe, s. pity, ruth, E 579; a pitiful sight, 

lit. ruth, E 562. 
Reyn, s. rain, B 1864, 3363. 
Reysed. ger. to raise, G 861; Reysed,//. made 

an inroad or military expedition. A 54. 
Ribaudye, 5. ribaldry, ribald jesting, C 324. 
Ribible, .?. fiddle, A 4396. 
Ribybe, s. old woman, D 1377. 
Riche, adj. pi. rich, B 122. 
Richely, adv. richly, F 90. 
Richesse, i-. riches, B 107. 
Riden, //. ridden, B 1990; //.//. rode, C 968. 
Right, adz'. precisely, just, exactly, F 193. 
Right, J. dat. right; by right, by rights, B 44. 
Rightwisnesse, .r. righteousness, C 637. 
Ring, s. ring, concourse; Ringes, //. E 255. 
Roche, J. rock, F 500. 
Rode, i'. complexion, B 1917. 
Rody, adj. ruddy, F 385. 
Rombel. See Rumbel. 

Rombled,//. .?. rummaged, fumbled. G 1322. 
Rombled, pt. s. made a murmuring noise, rum- 
bled, buzzed, muttered, B 3725. 
Romen, v. to roam, B 558. 
Ronnen, /^. //. ran; Ronne,//. run, B 2. See 

Renne. 
Rood,//, s. rode. E 234; Riden,//. B 1990. 
R00t.pt t. o{ Ryven. 
Roost, J. a roast, A 206. 
Rose-reed. adj. red as a rose, G 254. 
Roste, V. roast. A 383. 
Rote. J. a stringed instrument, A 236. 



358 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Rote; an astrological term for the epoch of a 
nativity, B 314; the radix, the fundamental 
principle, G 1461 ; root, source, B 358. 

Rote. .y. rote; by rote, by heart, B 1712. 

Roten. adj. rotten, G 17. 

Rouketh. pr. s. cowers, huddles, A 1308. 

Rouncy. s. hackney, A 390. 

Rounde, adv. roundly, fully, melodiously, C 

331- 

Roune, V. whisper, B 2025; Rowned, pt. s. 
whispered, F 216. 

Route, J. rout, crowd, company, band, B 387, 
650, 776. 

Route, 7'. to assemble in a company, B 540. 

Rownen. z'. to whisper, G 894. 

Rowthe. See Rewthe. 

Rubible. s. kind of fiddle, A 3331. 

Rubifying, .r. rubefaction, reddening, G 797. 

Rude. adj. common, rough, poor, E 916. 

Rudeliche. ad?', rudely, A 734. 

Rudenesse, s. rusticity, E 397. 

Ruggy, adj. unkempt, rugged, rough, A 2883. 

Rumbel. i. moaning wind, A 1979. 

Rum, ram, ruf, nonsense words, to imitate allit- 
eration, I 43. 

Ryden./r. //. ride, E 7S4; Rood, pt. s. E 234; 
Riden,//. B 1990. 

Rym. s. rime (commonly misspelt r/ty/Jif), 

I 44. 
Ryme. ?'. tell in rhyme (or rime), put into 

poetry, B 2122. 
Ryming. s. the art of riming, B 48. See Rym. 
Ryotoures, s. pi. rioters, roysterers, C 661. 
Rys, J. twig, A 3324. 
Ryse. V. to arise, get up, F 375; Rysen,/r. //. 

rise, F 383; Roos, /^. s. B 3717. 
Ryve, V. rive, pierce, C 828; tear, E 1236. 



S. 



Sad. adj. sedate, fixed, constant, unmoved, 
settled, E 693; sober, E 220; Sadde, //. dis- 
creet, grave, E 1002. 

Sadly, adv. in a settled manner, i.e. deeply, un- 
stintingly, B 743; firmly, tightly, E 1100. 

Sadnesse, s. constancy, patience, E 452. 

Saffron with, to tinge with saffron, to color, C 
345- 

Saffroun. s.; like saffroun, of a bright yellow- 
ish color, B 1920 

Sal armoniak. s. sal ammoniac, G 798. 

Sal peter, j. saltpetre, G 808. 

Sal preparat, s. prepared salt. G 810. 

Sal tartre, j. salt of tartar, G 810. 

Salte, adj. pi. salt, E 1084. 

Salue, V. salute, greet, B 1723; Salewed, //. F 
1310. 

Salwes, .f. pi. willows, D 655. 



Sangwyn, adj. red, A 333. 

^a.ns, prep, without, B 501. 

Saphires, j. //. sapphires, B 3658. 

Sapience, s. wisdom, G loi; //. kinds of intelli- 
gence, G 338. 

Sarge, .y. serge, A 2568. 

Sauf, adj. safe, B343; G 950. 

Saufly. adv. certainly, E 870. 

Saule. J. soul, A 4187. 

Sautrye, s. psaltery, small harp, A 296. 

SayQ, prep, save, except, B 3214. 

Save, .y. sage (the herb), A 2713. 

Save, V. to save, keep, E 683; 3 imp. s. may He 
save, E 505, 1064; Saved,//, kept inviolate, 

F SSI- 
Savour, .y. smell, G 887; pleasantness, F 404. 
Sawcefleem, adj. pimpled, A 625. 
Sawe, .y. discourse, G 691. 
Scabbe, s. scab, a disease of sheep, C 358. 
Scalled, adj. scabby, A 627. 
Scaped.//, escaped, B 1151. 
Scarsetee, s. scarcity, G 1393. 
Scarsly. adv. scarcely, B 3602, 
Scatered,//. scattered, G 914. 
Scathe, s. scathe, harm, pity. E 1172. 
Science, s. learning, learned writing, B 1666. 
Sclaundre, s. ill fame, E 722. 
Sclendre, adj. pi. slender, E 1198. 
Scole, s. school, B 1685, 1694. 
Scoleward; to scolezvard, toward school, B 

1739- 
Scoleye, ger. to study, A 302. 
Scourges, ,y. //. scourges, whips, plagues, E 

1157. 
Seche. ger. to seek, A 784. 
Secree. s. a secret, B 3211; secree of secrees, 

secret of secrets, Lat. Secreta Secretorum (the 

name of a book) , G 1447. 
Secreenesse, s. secrecy, B 773. 
Secrely, adv. secretly, E 763. 
Secte, J. sect, company, E 1171; religion, faith 

(lit. following), F 17. 
See, s. seat of empire, B 3339. 
S&Q, ger. to see, look on; Sey,//. s. saw, B i, 

7; Seyn,//. seen, B 1863; See, 3 imp. s. may 

(He) behold, or protect, B 156. 
Seel, J. happiness, A 4239; seal, B 882. 
Seen, v. see, B 182. 
Seeth,//. s. seethed, boiled, E 227. 
Seint, J. saint, B 1631; Seintes gen. pi. B 61. 
Seintuarie, s. sanctuary, I 781. 
SeistOW, sayest thou, B no. 
Seke, V. search through, B 60; Seken, ger. to 

seek, i.e. a matter for search. G 874. 
Selde, adj. pi. seldom, few; selde tynte, few 

times. E 146. 
Selde. adv. seldom E 427. 
Seled,//. sealed. B 736. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



359 



Selle, V. give, sell, A 278. 

Selve, adj. very; thy selve netghcbour, thy 
very neighbor, B 115. 

Sely, good, innocent, B 1702; holy, B 682; inno- 
cent. C 292; silly, simple, G 1076. 

Semblable, adj. like, I 408. 

Semblant, s. outward show, semblance. E 928. 

Seme. v. seem, appear, F 102; Semed, //f. s. 
i>iipers. it seemed. E 396; him semcd, it 
appeared to them, they supposed, F 56; the 
peple semed, it seemed to the people, the peo- 
ple supposed. F 201. 

Semely, adj. seemly, comely, B 1919. 

Semicope. i-. a short cope. A 262. 

Seminge, j. appearance; to my setnitige, as it 
appears to me. B 1838. 

Semisoun, s. low noise. A 3697. 

Sencer. s. censer. A 3340. 

Sendal, j. a thin silk, A 440. 

Sendeth, 2 hup. pi. send ye, C 614; Sente,//. s. 
snbj. would send. B 1091. 

Sene, adj. apparent. F 645. 

Sentence, s. opinion. B 113, 3992; meaning, 
subject, result, B 1753; judgment, order, I 17; 
verdict. G 366; general meaning, I 58. 

Septemtrioun, .y. north. B 3657. 

Sepulture, s. sepulchre. C 558. 

Sergeant, j. sergeant, officer. E 519. 

Sermone,^rr. to preach, speak, C 879. 

Sermouns, s. pl. writings. B 87. 

Servage, j. servitude, thraldom, bondage, A 
1946; B 368. 

Servisable. adj. serviceable, useful, E 979. 

Servitute, s. servitude, E 798. 

Servyse, .y. service, serving. E 603. 

Sesoun, s. season, G 1343. 

Set, //. placed, put, B 440; Seten, /^. //. sat, 
B 3734; sctte hir, sat, B 329; sette her on 
knees, cast herself on her knees, B 638; sette 
hern, seated themselves, C 775; setten hem 
adoun, set themselves, G 396. 

Setewale. See Cetewale. 

Sethe, V. boil, seethe, A 383. 

Seurtee, j. security, surety. B 243. 

Sewed, pt. s. pursued, B 4527. 

Sewes, J. //. lit. juices, gravies; prob. used 

here for seasoned dishes, delicacies, F 67. 
Sexteyn. s. sacristan, B 3126. 
Seyl, J. sail, A 696. 
Seyn. v. say; Seyd. //. B49; Seydestow, saidst 

thou. G 334. 
Seyn, //. seen, B 1863. 
Seynd. //. singed, broiled, B 4035. 
Shadde. pt. s. shed, poured, B 3921. 
Shadwe. j. shadow. B 7, 10. 
Shal. I pr. s. I shall (do so). F 688; Shallow, 

shalt thou, A 3575; Shul, i pr. pl. we must, 

E38. 



Shamefast, adj. modest, shy; Shamfast, A 
2055; C 55. 

Shames; shames deth, death of shame, i.e. 
shameful death, B 819. 

Shamfastnesse, s. modesty, A 840. 

Shap, J. shape, form, G 44. 

Shape, V. planned, E 275; prepared, B 249; 
appointed, B 253; Shapen hem, pr. pl. dispose 
themselves, intend, F 214. 

Sharpe, adz'. sharply, B 2073. 

Shaving, j. a thin slice, G 1239. 

Shedde,//. s. shed, B 3447. 

Sheeldes, s. pl. French crowns, A 278. 

Shefe, s. sheaf ; Sheef, A 104. 

Sheld. i-. shield, A 2122. 

Shendeth. pr. s. ruins, confounds, B 28. 

Shendshipe. s. ignominy, I 273. 

Shene. adj. showy, fair, B 692; bright, F 53. 

Shepne. j. //. sheep-folds. A 2000. 

Shere, v. to shear, cut. B 3257. 

Shere. i'. shear, a cutting instrument, scissors, 
B 3246. 

Sherte. .r. shirt. B 2049. 

Shet. //. shut. A 2597. 

Shete, s. sheet, G 879. 

Shethe. i-. sheath. B 2066. 

Shetten. v. to shut, enclose; gonne shetten, did 
enclose. G 517. 

Shifte. v. to apportion, assign. G 278. 

Shilde, 3 imp. s. may He shield, may He defend, 
B 2098. 

Shine, j. shin. leg. A 386. 

Shipman, .r. shipman. skipper, B 1179. 

Shipnes. s.pl. stables, D 871. 

Shirreve, j. governor (reeve) of a shire or 
county, A 359. 

Shiten,//. befouled, A 504. 

Sho. s. shoe, A 253. 

Shode, *. the temple (of the head), A 2007. 

Sholde, I pt. s. should, B 56; //. s. would, B 
3627; had to, was to, G 1382; I 65. 

Shonde, .f. shame, disgrace, B 2098. 

ShOOn, pt. s. shone, B 11. Pt. t. of Shynen. 

Shoop, pt. s. plotted, lit. shaped, B 3543; pre- 
pared for, E 198; created, E 903; contrived, 
E 946. 

Shot-windowe, .y. window with a bolt, A 3358. 

Showving, j. shoving, pushing, H 53. 

Shredde,//. .r. shred, cut, E 227. 

Shrewe, J. a shrew, peevish woman, E 1222, 
242S; evil one, G 917; an ill-tempered (male) 
person, C 496; Shrewes, //. wicked men, ras- 
cals, C 835. 

Shrewe, adj. evil, wicked, G 995. 

Shrighte,//. .y. shrieked, F417. 

Shullen, ipr. pl. ye shall, G 241; Shulde, \ pt. 
s. I should, I ought to, B 247. 

Sicer, s. strong drink, B 3245. 



36o 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Sik, adj. sick, A 1600. 

Siker, adj. certain, G 1047; safe, G 864. 

Sikerly, adv. certainly, assuredly, surely, B 

3984- 
Sikirnesse, j. security, safety, B 425. 
Sikly, adv. ill, with ill will, E 625. 
Similitude, J. comparison; hejice, proposition, 

statement, G 431. 
Simphonye, j. an instrument of music, B 2005. 
Sin, co7J. since, B 56; E 448. 
Singuler, adj. a single, G 997. 
Sinwes, s. pi. sinews, I 690. 
Sir, s. sir, a title of respectful address; sir man 

of lawe, B 33; sir parish prest, B 1166; sir 

gentil maister, B 1627. 
Sis cink, i e. six-five or eleven, a throw with 

two dice, which often proved a winning one in 

the game of " hazard," B 125. 
Site, s. site, situation, E 199. 
Sith, adv. afterwards, C 869. 
Sithen, adv. since, afterwards, B 58. 
Sitthe, conj. since, B 3867. 
Sive, s. sieve, G 940. 
Skile, s. reason; gret skile, good reason, E 

1152; Skiles, //. reasons, reasonings, argu- 
ments, F 205. 
Skilful, adj. discerning, B 1038. 
Skilfully, adv. reasonably, with good reason, G 

320. 
Slake, V. to slacken, desist from, E 705; to 

cease, E 137; to end, E 802; Slaketh, pr. s. 

assuages, E 1107. 
Slawe, //. slain, B 2016; Slawen //. E 544; 

Slayn, //. B 3708; Sleen, 7'. to slay. B 3736; 

ger. E 1076; Sleeth,/r. .y. slays, E 628; Slow, 

pt s. slew, B 3212; extinguished, B 3922. 
Sleere, s. slayer, A 2005. 
Sleighte, i-. contrivance, E 1102; craft, skill, G 

867; Sleightes, //. tricks, E 2421; devices, G 

773- 
Slen, V. to slay, B 3531. 
Slepe, s. sleep, F 347. 
Slepen, v. to sleep, B 2100; Slepte, pi. s. slept, 

E224. 
Slepy, adj. causing sleep, A 1387. 
Slewthe. See Slouthe. 
Slit, short for slideth. See Slyde. 
Slogardye, s. sloth, sluggishness, G 17. 
Slough, .r. mud, mire, H 64. 
Slouthe, J. sloth, B 530. 
Sluttish, adj. slovenly, G 636. 
Slyde, V. pass, go away, E 82. See Slit. 
Slyding, adj. unstable, slippery, G 732. 
Slye, adj. artfully contrived, F 230. 
Slyk, adj. sleek, 0*351. 
Slyk, adj such, A 4130. 
Slyly, ad7'. prudently, wisely, A 1444. 
Smal, adj. little, B 1726; Siuale, adj. pi. E 380. 



Smal, adv. ; but smal, but little, F 71. 

Smart, adj. brisk (said of a fire), G 768. 

Smerte, v. to smart, to feel grieved, E 353; //. 
s.subj.itnpers. grieved, T 564; \ pr. pi. sjcbj. 
may smart, may suffer, G 871. Short for 
smerteth. 

Smerte, j. smart, dolor, F 480. 

Smerte, adv. smartly, sorely, E 629. 

Smit, /r. J. smites, E 122; Smoot, /z!. J. smote, 
struck, B 669. See Smyte. 

Smok, .y. smock, E 890. 

Smoking, pres. pt. perfuming, A 2281. 

Smoklees, adj. without a smock, E 875. 

Smoot. pt. s. of Smyte. 

Smoterlich, adj. smutty, A 3963. 

Smyte, 2 pr.pl. ye smite, F 157. See Smit. 

Snewed, pt. s. snowed, abounded, A 345. 

Snibbed,//. snubbed, reproved, F 688. 

Snow, .y. snow; i.e. argent in heraldry, white, 
B 3573- 

Sobre, adj. sober, sedate, B 97. 

Sodeyn, adj. sudden, B 421. 

Sodeynliche, adv. suddenly, A 1575. 

Sodeynly, adv. suddenly, B 15. 

Softe, adv. softly, E 583; tenderly, B 275. 

Softe, adj. gentle, slow, B 399. 

Softely, adv. softly, F 636; quietly, G 408. 

Soken, .y. toll, A 3987. 

Sokingly, adv. gently, B 2766. 

Sol, Sol (the sun), G 826. 

Solas, J. rest, relief, B 1972; diversion, B 1904; 
comfort, solace, pleasure, B 3964. 

Solempne, adj. magnificent, illustrious, B 387; 
grand, festive, E 1125; superb, F 6.1; illus- 
trious, F III. 

Solempnely, adv. with pomp, with state, B 317. 

Solempnitee, j. feast, festivity, A 870. 

Som, indef. pron. some, B 1182; one, a certain 
man, G 922; som shrewe is, some one (at 
least) is wicked, G 995. 

Somdel, adv. partially, lit. some deal, E 1012 

Someres, j. gen. summer's, B 554. 

Somme, s. sum, chief point; Sommes, //. G 675. 

Somne, v. summon, D 1377 

Somnour, j. an officer employed to summon de- 
linquents to appear in ecclesiastical courts, 
apparitor, A 543. 

Somtyme, ad7!. at some time, some day, at a 
future time, B no. 

Sond. .y. sand, B 509. 

Sonde, s. sending, message, B 388, 1049; dis- 
pensation of providence, visitation, B 760, 826; 
trial, B 902; message {or messenger), G 525. 

Sone, ,y. son, F 688; Sones, //. F 29. 

Sone, adv. soon, B 769. 

Sone-in-law, .y. son-in-law, E 315. 

Sonest, ad7). siiperl. soonest, B 3716. 

Sonne, s. sun, G 52; Sonne, jf<?«. sun's, B 3944. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



361 



Soor, adj. sore, F 1571. 

Sooth, J. truth, B 3971 ; Sothe, dat. B 1939. 

Sooth, adj. true; used as adv. truly, C 636. 

Soothfastnesse, ^. truth, E 796. 

Soothly, adv. verily, E 689. 

Soper, J. supper, F 290. 

Sophyme, s. a sophism, trick of logic, E 5. 

Sore, ger. to soar, moUnt aloft, F 123. 

Sore, s. sore, misery, E 1243. 

Sore, adv. sorely; bar so sore, bore so ill, E 85. 

Sorwe, J. sorrow, grief, sympathy, compassion, 

F 422. 
Sorwefully, adv. sorrowfully, F 585. 
Sory, rt^//'. sad, unfortunate, B 1949; ill, C 876; 

miserable, H 55. 
Sote, adj. sweet, A i ; F 389. 
Soth, adj. true, B 169. See Sooth. 
Sothe. See Sooth. 
Sother, adj. camp, truer, G 214. 
Sothfastnesse, s. truth, B 2365. 
Sotil. adj. thin, subtle, A 2030. 
Sotted, adj. besotted, befooled, G 1341. 
Souded, //. attached, devoted, B 1769. 
Souked,//. sucked, been at the breast, E 450; 

'io\xV\wg(t, pres. part, sucking, B 1648. 
Soun, .y. sound, musical sound, E 271. 
Soune, V. sound; imitate in sound, speak like, 
F 105; Souneth, /r. s. tends (to), is conso- 
nant (with), B 3157. 
Soupen, pr. pi. sup, F 297. 
Souple, adj. subtle, obedient, yielding, B 3690. 
Sourden,/r^.y. //. rise from, I 448. 
Sours, s. source, origin, E 49. 
Souter, s. cobbler, A 3904. 
Sowdan, j. sultan, B 177. 
Sowdanesse, ,y. sultaness, B 358. 
Sowen, V. to sow, B 1182. 
Sowled,//. endued with a soul, G 329. 
Sownen, pr. pi. sound, i.e. play, F 270; Sown- 
cih, pr.pl. tend (to), are consonant (with), F 
517; Souned, pt. pi. tended, B 3348. See 
Soune. 
Space, 5-. opportunity, I 64. 
Spare, v. to refrain, abstain from, A 192. 
Sparre, s. bar, bolt, A 990. 
Sparwe, j. sparrow, A 626. 
Spece, J. species, kind, class. I 407. 
Speche,5. dat. speech, elocution, oratory. F 104. 
Special, adj.; in special, specially, A 444. 
Spedde. pt. s. prospered, made to prosper, B 

3876. 
Speedful, adj. advantageous, B 727. 
Speke, v. speak; Spak,//. J. E 295. 
Spekestow, speakest thou. G 473. 
Spelle, 5-. dat. a spell, relation, story. B 2083. 
Spence, j. a battery, D 1031. 
Spendine;-Silver, .y. silver to spend, money in 
hand, G 1018. 



Spere, j. sphere, F 1280. 

Spicerye, s. mixture of spices, B 2043. 

Spilt,//, killed, B857. 

Spirites, i-. //. the (four) spirits in alchemy, G 

820. 
Spitously, adv. angrily, A 3476. 
Spones,//. spoons, C 908. 
Spores,//, spurs, A 473. 
Spousaille, 5. espousal, wedding, E 180. 
Spoused,//, espoused, wedded, E 3, 386. 
Spouted,//, vomited, B 487. 
Spradde. pt. s. spread, E 418. 
Spreynd,//. sprinkled, B 1830. See Springen. 

Springe, v. rise, dawn, F 346. 

Springen, v. sprinkle, scatter, sow broadcast, B 

1183; Spreynd,//. sprinkled, B 1830. 
Springing, j. beginning, source, E 49. 
Spurne, v. spurn, kick, F 616. 
Spyces, s. pi. spices, F 291. 
Squames, s. pi. scales, G 759. 
Squaymous, adj. squeamish, A 3337. 
Squyer, s. squire, A 79; Squyeres, //. E 192. 
Stable, adj. constant, E 931. 
Stablissed,//. established, A 2995. 
Staf-slinge. .f. a staff-sling, B 2019. 
Stalke, v.; Stalked him, pt. s. walked slowly, 

E525. 
Stampe, pr. pi. stamp, bray in a mortar, C 538. 
Stank, s. a pool, I 841. 
Stant,/r. s. is, B 31 16. 
Stape, Stapen,//. advanced, B 4011. 
Starf, //. s. died, B 283. Pt. t. of Sterven. 

See Starve. 
Starke, adj. pi. severe, B 3560. 
Stede, J. steed, F 81. 
Stede ; in stede of, in stead of, B 3308. 
Stedfastnesse, s. steadfastness, firmness, E 

699. 
Stedfastly, adv. assuredly, E 1094. 
Steer, s. a yearling bullock, A 2149. 
Stele, i'. handle, A 3785. 
Stele, V. to steal, B 105; Steleth, pr. s. steals 

away, B 21; Stal,/^. s. stole away, B 3763. 
Stemed,//. .s-. shone, A 202. 
Stente, v. to cease, stint, leave off, B 3925. 
Stepe, adj. pi. bright, glittering, A 201. 
Stere, s. pilot, helmsman, B 448. 
Sterelees, adj rudderless, B 439. 
Sterlinges, // sterling coins, C 907. 
Sterres, gen. pi. of the stars, E 1124. 
Sterte, v. pass away, B 335; pr. pi. start, rise 

quickly, C 705. 
Sterve, v. die of famine, C 451 ; Starf, pt. s. 

died, B 3325. 
Stevene, s. voice, language, F 150. 
Stewe, .y. a fish-pond, A 350. 
Stiborn, adj. stubborn, D 456 
Stiked, pt. s. stuck, fixed, B 2097; Stikede, 



362 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



pierced, B 3897; Stiked, //. stabbed, B 430; 

a stiked szuyn, a stuck pig, C 556. 
Stillatorie, s. still, vessel used in distillation, G 

580. 
Stire, V. to stir, move, C 346. 
Stiropes, s.pl. stirrups, B 1163. 
Stith, 5-. anvil, A 2026. 
Stoke, V. stab, A 2546. 
Stonde, v. stand; be understood, be fixed, E 

346; be set in view (as a prize at a game), B 

1931; Stode, stood, B 176. 
Stongen,//. stung, A 1079. 
Stoor, s. store, farm-stock, C 365. 
Stopen,//. advanced, E 1514. 
Store, adj. stubborn, E 2367. 
Storie, j. tale, history, B 3900. 
Stot, ,y. stallion, A 615. 
Stounde, s. short time, B 1021. 
Stoupe, gcr. to stoop, G 1311. 
Stoures, s. pi. battles, combats, B 3560. 
Stout, adj. strong, A 545. 
Strange, def. adj. strange, F 89. 
Straughte. //. s. stretched, A 2916. 
Straunge, adj. strange, foreign, A 13. 
Straw, intcrj. a straw ! F 695. 
Strawe, 2/r. ,y. subj. strew, F 613. 
Strayte, s. strait, B 464. 
Streem, s. stream, river, A 464. 
Streen, j. strain, i.e. stock, progeny, race, E 

157- 
Streit, adj. narrow, A 174. 
Streite, pp. as adj. def. drawn, B 4547. 
Stremes, //. streams, rays, beams, B 3944. 
Strenger, adj. comp. stronger, B 3711. 
Strengthes,//. sources of strength, B 3248. 
Strepeth, /r. s. strips, E 894; Strepen, //. E 

1116. 
Streyne, z'. constrain, E 144 
strike, 5-. hank (of flax), A 676. 
Strogelest, ■z pr. s. strugglest, C 829. 
Stronde, j. shore, B 825. 
Stroof , pi. s. strove, A 1038. 
Strook, i-. a stroke, B 3899. 
Strouted, /2?. i^. spread, A 3315. 
Stryve, ?'. to strive, oppose, E 170. 
Stubbes, s. pi. stumps, A 1978. 
Studien, V. to study, E 8; Studie, 2 pr. pi. E 5. 
Sturdinesse, j. sternness, E 700. 
Sturdy, adj. cruel, stern, E 698, 1049. 
Style, J. stile, gate to climb over, C 712; F 106. 
Style, s. style, mode of writing, E 18, 41. 
Styves, ^. //. stews, brothels, D 1332. 
Styward, s. steward, B 914. 
Subgets, s. pi. subjects, E 482. 
Subieccioun, s. subjection, obedience, B 270; 

subjection, governance, B 3656. 
Sublymatories, s. pi. vessels for sublimation, 

G793- 



Sublymed, //. sublimed, sublimated, G 774. 
Sublyming, s. sublimation, G 770. 
Submitted ; ye ben submitted, ye have sub- 
mitted, B 35. 
Subtilly, adv. subtly, F 222. 
Subtiltee, s. skill, craft, G 844; Subtilitee, sub- 
tlety, craft, secret knowledge, G 620. 
Sufflsant, adj. able, sufficient, B 243. 
Suffraunce, s. endurance, patience, E 1162. 
Suffyse, V. suffice, B 3648. 
Suggestioun, j. a criminal charge, B 3607. 
Sugre, s. sugar, B 2046. 
Superfluitee, s. superfluity, excess, C 471. 
Surcote, j. upper coat, A 617. 
Surement, i-. surety, pledge, F 1534. 
Surplys, ,y. surplice, G 558. 

Surquidrie, ,y. arrogance, over-confidence, I 403. 
Sursanure, s. surface-healed wound, F 1113. 
Suspecious, adj. suspicious, ominous of evil, 

E 541- 
Suspect, ,$-. suspicion, E 905. 
Sustenance, s. support, living, E 202. 
Swa, adv. so, A 4040. 
Swal,/^. J. swelled; up swal, swelled up, was 

pufied up with anger, B 1750; Swollen, //. 

proud, E 950. 
Swappe, V. to swap, strike, E 586; Swapte, /^. 

s. fell suddenly, E 1099; Swap, imp. s. strike 

off, G 366. 
S watte,//". J. sweated, G 560. 
Swayn. j. lad, young man, B 1914. 
Sweigh, J. sway, motion, B 296. 
Swelwe,/r. J. subj. swallow, E 1188. 
Swerd, s. dat. sword, B 64. 
Swere, v. swear, B 1171; Swoor, /A s. B 2062; 

Sworen, //. E 176; Swore,//, sworn, E 403; 

Sworn, bound by oath, F 18. 
Swering, s. swearing, C 631. 
Swete, adj. sweet, H 42. 
Swete, ger. to sweat, G 522 ; Swatte, pt. s. G 

560. 
Sweven, s. dream, B 3930. 
Swich, adj. such; sivicJi a, such a, B 3921; 

swich 0011, such an one, F 231; Swiche, //. 

B88. 
Swink, J. labor, toil, A 188; G 730. 
Swinke, v. labor, toil, A 186; G 669; ger. labor, 

toil, C 874; pr. pi. gain by labor, work for, G 

21; Swonken,//. toiled, A 4235. 
Swinker, s. laborer, A 531. 
Swollen,//, swollen, i e. proud, E 950. 
Swolwe, v. to swallow, H 36. 
Swonken. See Swinke. 
SwOOt, ,?. sweat, G 578. 
Swote, adj. See Sote, Swete. 
Swowneth,/r. ,y. swoons, F 430; Swowned,//. 

s. swooned, F 443; Swowning, pres. part. B 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



363 



Swowninge, s. swooning, swoon, E 1080. 

Swyn, s. swine, A 598. 

Swythe, adv. quickly; as swythe, as quickly 

as possible, B 637; G 936. 
Swyve, 7'. have sexual intercourse with, A 4178. 
Sy, pt. s. saw, G 1381. 
Sye, Seyen, /if. //. saw, E 1804; G no. 
Syk. s. sigh, F 498. 
Syked, /^. .y. sighed, B 3394; Syketh, /r. j. 

sigheth, sighs, B 985; Sighte, /^. j. .sighed, B 

1035. 
Sys, six, B 3851. 
Sythe,//. times, B 733; ofte sythe, many times, 

G 1031 ; ful ofte sythe, full oftentimes, E 233. 



T', before a verb beginning with a vowel, to; as 

Tacord, etc. 
Taa, V. take, A 4129. 
Tabard, .y. short coat for a herald, A 20; for a 

laborer, A 541. 
Table, .y. board; at table, at board, i.e. enter- 
tained as a lodger, G 1015. 
Tabyde, for To abide, B 797. 
Tacord, T^r To accord, i.e. to agreement, H 98. 
Taffata, j. fine silk, A 440. 
Taffraye.yJjr To affraye, to frighten, E 455. 
Taillages. s. pi. taxes, I 567. 
Taille, s. a tally, credit, A 570. 
Tak, imp. s. receive, B 117; Take me, i pr. s. 

offer myself, betake myself, B 1985; Takestow, 

2pr. s. takest thou, G 435. 
Takel, s. tackle, arrow, A 106. 
Tale, i'. a long story, E 383; Tales,//. B 130. 
Talent, s. desire, appetite, C 540. 
Talighte, for To alighte, i.e. to alight, E 909. 
Taling, .?. story-telling, B 1624. 
Tamende,^r To amende, to redress, E 441. 
TSLnoyeUtfor To anoyen, to injure, B 492. 
Tapicer, i-. upholsterer, A 362. 
Tappestere, .y. barmaid, tapster, A 241. 
Tarien, v. tarry, B 983; delay (used actively), 

F 73; Taried,//. delayed, F 402. 
Tarraye, for To arraye, to array, arrange, 

E961. 
Tartre, s. tartar, G 813. 
Tas, J. heap, A 1005. 
Tassaile, yi^r To assaile, ger. to assail; Tas- 

saile, E 1180. 
Tassaye,y^r To assaye, to try; to test, prove, 

try, E 454, 1075. 
Tassoille, yi'r To assoile, to absolve, C 933. 
Taste, ivip. s. feel, G 503. 
Taverner, s. inn-keeper, C 685, 
Tavyse, for To avyse, to deliberate, B 1426. 
Teche, V. teach, A 308; B 11 80. 
Teer, J. a tear, E 1104; Teres,//. E 1084. 



Tellen, tk tell, relate, B 56; Tel, :;«/. s. B 1167. 

Tembrace, for To embrace, E iioi. 

Temple, .y. inn of court, A 567. 

Tempred, //. tempered, G 926. 

Temps, s. tense; futur temps, future tense, 

futurity, time to come, G 875. 
Tenbrace, for To enbrace, to embrace, B 1891. 
Tendure, for To endure, E 756, 811. 
Tenspyre, for To enspyre, i.e. to inspire, G 1470. 
Tentifly, adv. attentively, E 334. 
Tercelet, s. male falcon, F 504, 621 ; Tercelets, 

//. male birds of prey, F 648. 
Tere, .y. a tear, B 3852. 

Terme, ,y. period, space of time; in terme, in 
set terms or phrases, C 311; terine of his 
lyve, for the whole period of his life, G 1479; 
Termes, //. set terms, pedantic expressions, 
G 1398. 
Terved,//. stripped, G 1171. 
Tespye, for To espye, to espy, B 1989. 
Testers, i-. //. head-pieces, A 2499. 
Testes, i-. //. vessels for assaying metals, G 818. 
Testif , adj. headstrong, A 4004, 
Texpounden, for To expounden, i.e. to ex- 
pound, to explain, B 1716. 
Text, J. text, quotation from an author, B 45, 
Textuel, adj. literal, keeping strictly to the 

letter of the text, I 57. 
Teyd,// tied, bound, E 2432. 
Teyne, s. a thin plate of metal, G 1225, 1229. 
Th', before substantives beginning with a vowel, 

the; as Theffect for the effect. 
Thadversitee, s. the adversity, E 756. 
Thakked,//. stroked, A 3304. 
Thalighte, yi^r Thee alighte; in thee alighte, 

alighted in thee, B 1660. 
Than, adv.; er than, sooner than, before, G 

899. 
Thanke, i pr. s. I thank, E 1088. 
Tharray, for The array, F 63. 
That, conj. as, as well as, B 1036; rel. pron. 

with reference to whom, G 236. 
Thavys, the advice, A 3076. 
The,/r^«. thee, F 676. 
Thee, V. prosper, thrive, G 641 ; also tnote I 

thee, so may I thrive, B 2007. 
Theffect, for The effect; the moral, B 2148. 
Thegle, for The egle, the eagle, B 3573. 
Theme, s. text, thesis of a sermon, C 333. 
Themperour, for The emperour, the emperor, 

B 248; Themperoures, the emperor's, B 151. 
Thenche, v. think, A 3253. 
Thende, for The ende, the end, B 423, 3269. 
Thenke, ipr. s. I think, I intend, E 641. 
ThenneS. adv. thence, B 308: used as s. the 

place that, G 66. 
Thennes-forth, adv. thenceforth, B 1755. 
Thentencioun, the intention, G 1443. 



364 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Thentente, for The entente, purpose, end, G 

1306. 
Ther, adv. there, B 62; ther that, where, F 

267. 
Ther-aboute, adv. thereupon, therein, G 832. 
Ther bifore, adv. beforehand, E 689, 729. 
Ther-biforn, adv. beforehand, before the event, 

B 197, C 624. 
Ther-fore, adv. on that account, E 445; on that 

point, E 1 141; for that purpose, F 177. 
Ther-inne, adv. therein, in it, B 1945, 3573. 
Ther-of, adv. with respect to that, to that end, 

E 644. 
Ther-on, adv. thereupon, thereof, F 3. 
Ther-OUte, adv. out there, out in the open air, 

B 3362; outside there, G 1136. 
Therto, adv. besides, moreover, F 19. 
Therwith, adv. besides, at the same time, 

B 3210. 
Therwith al, adv. besides all that, as well, 

63131, 3612. 
Thestaat, for The estaat, the state, condition, 

B 128. 
Thewes, pi. qualities, E 409; virtues, good 

qualities, G loi. 
Thexcellent, the excellent, B 150. 
Thider, adv. thither, B 144; C 749. 
Thikke, adj. thick, F 159. 
Thilke, that very, that same, C 753; that sort 

of, I 50. 
Thimage, the image, B 1695. 
Thing, //. possessions, G 540; Thinges, pieces 

of music, F 78. 
Thingot, the ingot, G 1233. 
Thinketh, /r. j. unpcrs. ; vie thinketh, it 

seems to me, B 1901. 
Thinne, adj. thin, poor, scanty, limited, G 741. 
Thise, // of This, but a 7fionosy liable, B 59. 
Thoccident, for The Occident, B 3864. 
Thoght, s. care, anxiety, B 1779; E 80. 
Tholed,//. suffered, D 1546. 
Thombe, s. thumb, F 83. 148. 
Thonder, s. thunder, F 258. 
Thonke, i pr. s. I thank, E 830. 
Thorient, for The Orient, B 3871, 3883. 
Thoughte, //. J. itnpers. seemed, B 146; 

thoiighte hem, it seemed to them, C 475. 
Thral, j. thrall, slave, servant, B 3343. 
Thraldom, \y. bondage, slavery, B 286. 
Threpe, i pr. pi. we call, assert to be, G 826. 
Threshfold, ,y. threshold, E 288, 291. 
Threste, v. thrust, A 2612. 
Threting, ,y. threatening, menace, G 698. 
Thrift, s. success, prosperity in money-making, 

G 739, 1425. 
Thrifty, adj. profitable, B 1165. 
Thrittene, thirteen, D 2259. 
Throf,/^. i. of Thryve. 



Throp, J. thorpe, small village, E 199; Thropes, 
,y. ge7i. village's, I 12. 

Throwe, j. a short space of time, a little while, 
B 953; E 450. 

Thrustel,,s. a throstle, thrush, B 1963; Thrustel- 
cok, B 1959. 

Thryve, v. thrive, prosper, E 172. 

Thurgh, prep, through, by help of, B 1669 ; by, 
F II. 

Thurgh-girt, //. pierced through, A loio. 

Thurghout,/r^/. throughout, F 46; all through, 
B 256, 464; quite through, C 655. 

Thurrok, s. hold of a ship, sink, I 363, 715. 

Thurst, J. thirst, B 100. 

Thursted him, pt. s. z'mpers. he was thirsty, 
B 3229. 

Thwitel, .y. knife, A 3933. 

Tid, pp. of TydcH. 

TidifS, i-. //. small birds, F 648. 

Tikel, adj. frail, A 3428. 

Til, Prep, to, G 306. 

Tirannye, j. tyranny, B 165. 

To, adv. too, B 2129; overmuch, G 1423; to dere, 
too dearly, C 293; to and fro, all ways, H 53. 

To, prep, to (used after its case), G 1449. 

To, s. toe, A 2726. 

To-bete, V. beat severely, G 405. 

To-breketh, pr. s. breaks in twain, G 907. 

Tode, .y. toad, I 636. 

Toght, adj. taut, D 2267. 

To-gider, adv. together, B 3222; Togidres, C 
702. 

To-hewe, //. hewn in pieces, B 430. 

Tokening, s. token, proof, G 1153. 

TolAe, pt. t of Tellen. 

Tollen. V. take toll, A 562. 

Tombesteres, j. //. fe?H. dancing girls, lit. fe- 
male tumblers, C 477. 

Tongas,//, languages, B 3497. 

Tonne-greet, adj. great as a tun, A 1994. 

Took., pt. s. took, had, B 192. 

To-race, pr. pi. subj. may scratch to pieces, 
E572. 

Tord, .y. excrement, C 955. 

To-rent, //. torn to pieces, E 1012; To-rente, 
pt. s. rent in twain, B 3215. 

Torets, pi. small rings or swivels, A 2152. 

Tormentinge, s. torture, E 1038. 

Tormentour. .s- tormentor, /. e. executioner, B 81 8. 

Tormentyse. s. torment, B 3707. 

Torn, .y. turn, C 815. 

Tome, V. to turn, G 1403; Terve, 3 itup. s. may 
he turn, G 1274; Terved, //. turned, i.e. 
" turned him round his finger," G 1171. 

Tortuous, adj. oblique, a technical term in as- 
trology, used of the six of the zodiacal signs 
which ascend most obliquely, B 302. 

To-SWinke, pr. pi. labor greatly, C 519. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



365 



To-tar, //". 5. lacerated, B 3801. 

To-tere,/r. //. rend, tear in pieces, C 474; To- 

tore,//. torn in pieces, G 635. 
Toty, adj. dizzy, A 4253. 
Touche, pr. s. S2ibj. affect, concern, B 3284. 
Tour, ^. tower; in B 2096, it means that his crest 

was a miniature tower, with a lily projecting 

from it. 
Touret, s. turret, A 1909. 
Tourneyment, .s. a tournament, B 1906. 
Toute, J. backside, A 3812. 
Toverbyde, to outlive, D 1260. 

Towaille, jr. towel, B 3935, 3943. 
Trad,//", j. trod, B 4368. 
Traiterye, j. traitorye, B 781. 
Trappures,//. trappings of a horse, A 2499. 
Trave, s. frame for unruly horses, A 3282. 
Trede-foul, s. treader of fowls, B 3135. 
Trench, .y. a hollow walk, alley, F 392. 
Trentals, s. series of masses for the dead, D 1717. 
Tresor, i\ treasure, wealth; Tresour, B 3401. 
Trespace, v. trespass, transgress, sin, B 3370. 
Trete, pr. pi. discourse, treat, C 630. 
Tretee, s. treaty, B 3865. 
Tretis, s. treatise, document, B 2147. 
Tretys, adj. long, well-proportioned, A 152. 
Trewe,//. used as s. the faithful, B 456. 
Treweliche, adv. truly, E 804. 
Trewe love, s. condiment to sweeten breath, 

A 3692. 
Triacle, 5-. a sovereign remedy, B 479. 
Trille, 7K turn, F 316. 
Trippe, v. to trip, to move briskly with the feet, 

F312. 
Troden,//. stepped, C 712. 
Trompe, .y. trumpet, B 705. 
Tronchoun, s. broken shaft of a spear, A 2615. 
Trone, s. throne (of God), heaven, C 842. 
Trouble, adj. troubled, gloomy, E 465. 
Trouthe, .y. truth, G 238; troth, truth, B 527. 
Trufles, 5-. //. trifles, I 715. 
Tryce, z'. pull away, B 3715. 
Trye, adj. choice, excellent, B 2046. 
Tryne COmpas, the threefold world, containing 

earth, sea, and heaven, G 45. 
Tulle, V. lure, A 4134. 
Twelf , twelve, E 736. 
Tweyfold, adj. twofold, double, G 566. 
Twinkling, .r. momentary Clinking, E 37. 
Twinne, £-er. to separate, B 517; to depart 

(from), C 430. 
Twiste, V. to twist, wring, torment, F 566. 
Twiste, s. dat. twig, spray, F 442. 
Twyes, adv. twice, B 1738. 
Tyde, s. season, F 142. 
Tyden, v. befall, B 337. 
Tyding, j. tidings, news, B 726. 
Tyme, j. time, B 19. 



Unbokele, v. unbuckle, F 555. 

Unbounden, //. unbound, unwedded, divorced, 
E 1226. 

Unbrent,//. unburnt, B 1658. 

Uncouple, v. to lot loose, B 3692. 

Uncouthe, adj. pi. strange, F 284. 

Undergrowe, //. undergrown, A 156. 

Undermeles, s. pi. morning meal-time, D S75. 

Undern, s. a particular period of the day, gener- 
ally from 9 A.M. to midday; it here probably 
means the beginning of that period, or a little 
after 9 a.m., E 260, 981. 

Undernom, pt. s. perceived, G 243. 

Underpyghte, //. j. stuffed, filled underneath, 
B 789. 

Underspore, v. lever up, A 3465. 

Understonde, v. to understand, E 20; Under- 
stondeth, pr. pi. understand, C 646. 

Undertake, v. to affirm, E 803; I pr. s. I am 
bold to say, B 3516. 

Undigne, adj. unworthy, E 359. 

Unfestlich, adj. unfestive. jaded, F 366. 

Unhele, s. misfortune, sickness, C 116. 

Unkinde, adj. unnatural, B 88. 

Unkindely, adv. unnaturally, C 485. 

Unkindenesse, s. unkindness, B 1057. 

Unnethe, adv. scarcely, hardly, with difficulty, 
B 1050, 1816. 

Unsad, adj. unsettled, E 995. 

Unset, adj. unappoint'ed, A 1524. 

Unslekked, adj. unslacked, G 806. 

Unthriftily, adv. poorly, G 893. 

Untrewe, adj. untrue, false, B 3218. 

Untrouthe, s. untruth, B 687. 

Unwar, adj. unexpected, B 427. 

Unweldy, adj. unwieldy, difficult to move, 

H55. 
Unwemmed, //. unspotted, spotless, G 137, 

225. 
Unyolden, without yielding, A 2642. 
Up-haf, pt. s. uplifted, A 2428. 
Upright, adv. flat on the back, A 4194. 
Up-SO-doun, adi'. upside down, A 1377. 
Upsterte,/^ s. upstarted, arose. A, loSo. 
Up-yaf,//. s. yielded up, A 2427. 



V. 



Vane, .y. weather-vane, E 996. 

Variaunt, adj. varying, changing, changeable, 

fickle, G 1175. 
Vavasour, j. landholder, A 360. 
Veluettes, pi. velvets, F 644. 
Venerye, .r. hunting. A 166, 2308. 
Venim. .y. venom, poison, A 2751. 
Ventusinge, j. cupping, A 2747. 



366 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



Verdegrees, j. verdigris, G 791. 

Verdit, s. verdict, A 787. 

Vermyne, s. vermin, E 1095. 

Vernage, s. white wine, B 1261. 

Vernicle, s. copy of the handkerchief with the 

impression of the face of the Saviour, A 685. 
Verray, adj. very, true; verray force, main 

force, B 3237. 
Verrayment, adv. truly, B 1903. 
Vertu, s. virtue, F 593; ■uertit plese, satisfy vir- 
tue, be virtuous, E 216; magic power, magic 

influence, F 146, 157. 
Verye, guard (?), A 3485. 

Vese, i-. a rush of wind, draught, gush, A 1985. 
Vessel, J. {collectively) vessels, plate, B 3338. 
Vestiment, s. clothing, robes, F 59. 
Veyn, adj. vain, empty, powerless, silly, G 

497- 
Veyne-blOOd, j. blood of the veins, A 2747. 
Viage, J. journey, voyage, B 259. 
Vicary, ^. victor, I 22. 
Vilanye, s. evil-doing, B 1681. 
Vileinye, s. discourtesy, C 740 ; licentiousness, 

G231. 
Violes, J. //. vials, phials, G 793. 
Viritrate, 5. hag, D 1582. 
Vitaile, s. victuals, food; Vitaille, E 59, 265. 
Vitaile, v. provide with victuals; Vitailled, //. 

provisioned, B 869. 
Vitremyte, s. woman's cap, B 3562. 
Voluper, J. cap, A 3241. 
Voyden, v. to get rid of, E 910; F 188; imp. s. 

depart from, E 806; Voydeth, imp. pi. send 

away, G 1136. 
VoyS, J. voice, F 99; rumor, E 629. 



W. 



Waast, s. waist, B 1890. 

Wachet, J. blue cloth, A 3321. 

Wafereres, j. //. makers o{ gaufres or wafer- 
cakes, confectioners, C 479. 

Waiteth, pr. s. watches, E 708. 

Waken, v. act. to awake, B 1187. 

Wakinge, s. a keeping awake, period of wake- 
fulness, B 22. 

Wal, s. wall, E 1047. 

Wan, //. J. won, B 3337. 

Wanges, s. pi. cheek-teeth, A 4030. 

Wang-tooth, s. molar tooth, B 3234. 

Wanhope, s. despair, A 1249. 

Wanie, v. wane A 2078. 

Wantown, adj. wanton, free, unrestrained, 
A 208; Wantoun, E 236. 

Wantownesse, j. wantonness, A 264. 

Wantrust, adj. distrustful, H 281 

War, adj. aware; be iva-r, beware, take heed, 
B 119; beth ware, B 1629. 



War, itnp. s. as pi.; war yow, take care of 1 
yourselves, make way, B 1889. 

Wardecors, s. bodyguard, D 359. 

Warderere, look out behind, A 4101. 

Wardrobe, s. privy, B 1762. 

Ware, adj. aware. See War. 

Ware, imp. beware, B 4146. 

Ware, j. merchandise, B 140. 

Warente, v. to warrant, protect, C 338. 

Wariangles, s. pi. butcher birds, D 1408. 

Warie, 1 pr. s. I curse, B 372. 

Warisshe, v. recover, B 2172. 

Warisshinge, .?. healing, B 2205. 

Warne, i pr. s. I warn, I bid you take heed, 
616,1184. SeeWerne. 

Warnestore, grr. to garrison, B 2521. 

Waryce, v. heal, cure, C 906. 

Wasshe, //. washed, C 353. 

Wast, .S-. waste, B 1609. 

Wastel-breed, i-. cake of fine flour, A 147. 

Wawe, .y. wave, B 508; Wawes,//. B 468. 

Wayk, adj. weak, B 1671. 

Wayten, v. to watch, F 444; Wayteth, pr. s. 
B 3331. 

Webbe, .y. weaver, A 362. 

Wedde, j. dat. pledge, A 1218. 

Wede, s. a " weed," a garment, A 1006; B 2103. 

Weder, .$-. weather, F 52. 

Weel. See Wei. 

Weet, s. wet, B 3407. 

Weex,//. s. waxed, grew, G 513. 

Wei, adv. well, B 25; very, as in wel royal, 
very royal, F 26; about (used with numbers), 
F 383 ; certainly, by all means, E 635. 

Welde, J. rule, D 271. 

Welde, 71. wield; pt. s. wielded, overpowered, 
B 3452. 

Wele, s. prosperity, B 175. 

Welful, adj. full of weal, blessed, B 451. 

Wel-faring, adj. well-faring, thriving, prosper- 
ous, B 3132. ''' 

Welked,//. withered, C 738. 

Welte, pt. s. wielded, i.e. lorded it over, pos- 
sessed for use, B 3200. 

Wem, 5-. injury, hurt, F 121. 

Wemmelees, adj. stainless, G 47. 

Wende, v. go; Wente \nm,pt. s. turned himself, 
i e. went his way, G 11 10; Went, pp. gone; 
ben we tit, are gone, B 173; is went, is gone, 
G 534. 

Weneth, pr. s. imagines, C 569. 

Wente. See Wende. 

Wepen,/r. //. weep, B 820; Wepte,//. .y. wept, 
B267. 

Werche, v. to work, make, do, perform, B 566; 
G14. 

Wered,//. worn, B 3315. 

Werk, .s-^ work, i.e. reality, practice, F 482. 



GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 



367 



Werking, j. work, mode of operation, G 1367. 


Y-Cleped,//. called, H 2; Y-clept, G 772. 


Werreyed, pt. s. made war upon, warred against, 


Y-corvcn,//. cut, G 533. 


Fig. - 


Y-COuplcd,//. coupled, wedded, E 1219. 


Werte, j. wart, A 555. 


Y-coyned, //. coined, C 770. 


Wery, adj. weary, B 2111. 


Y-cristned,//. baptized, B 240. 


Wesh,//. J. washed, B 3934. See Wasshe. 


Ydel, adj. idle, E 217. 


West, s. as adv. in the west, F 459. 


Ydolastre, j. an idolater, B 3377. 


Wete, J. wet, perspiration, G 1187. 


Yeddinges,//. songs, A 237. 


Wex, J-. wax, G 1164, 1268. 


Yede,/^. j. went, G 1141. 


Wey, J. way; a furlong ivey^ a small distance. 


Yelden, v. to yield, E 843. 


a short time, E 516; Weye, dat. on (his) way. 


Yeldhallc, s. guild-hall, A 370. 


F604. 


Yelding, s. produce, yielding, A 596. 


Weyve, v. forsake, G 276. 


Ycllcden, pt. pi. yelled, B 4579. 


Whete, J. wheat, I 36. 


Yelpe, V. boast, A 2238. 


Whyl-er, adv. formerly, G 1328. 


Yeman, j. yeoman, A loi. 


Widwe, s. widow, C 450. 


Yexeth,/5r. s. hiccoughs, A 4151. 


Wight, s. man, creature, person, B 656. 


Y-fet,//. fetched, G 11 16. 


Wike, s. week, C 362. 


Y-fetcred,//. fettered, A 1229. 


Wiltow, for Wilt thou, i.e. wishest thou, B 


Y-glcwcd,/A glued, fixed tight, F 182. 


2116. 


Y-glosed,//. flattered, H 34. 


Windas, j. windlass, F 184. 


Y-hent, //. seized, caught, C 868. 


Winsinge, adj. lively, A 3263. 


Y-herd, pp. haired, A 3738. 


Wlatsom, adj. loathsome, B 4243. 


Y-holde, //. considered, C 602. 


Wol,/r. s. permits, H 28; wol adojin, is about 


Yilden. See Yelden. 


to set, I 72; Wole, pr. pi. will, B 468; Wol- 


Y korven, //. cut, B 1801. 


tow, wilt thou, G 307. 


Y-lad,//. carried (in a cart), A 530. 


Wombe, ^. the belly, C 522. 


Y-maad, //. made, caused, F 218. 


Wommanhede, j. womanhood, B 851. 


Y-mette,//. met, B 1115. 


Wonger, s. pillow, B 2102. 


Y-meynd,//. mingled, mixed, A 2170. 


Woodeth /r. J. plays the madman, acts madly, 


Y-now, adv. enough, G 864. 


G467. 


Yolden, pp. yielded, A 3052. 


Woodnesse, j. madness, C 496. 


Yolle,/r.//. yell, A2672. 


Wopen, //. wept, F 523. 


Youling, .y. yelling, A 1278. 


Wort, ^. unfermented beer, wort, G 813. 


Y-piked,//. picked over, G 941. 


Wortes, s. pi. roots, vegetables, E 226. 


Ypocras, Hippocrates; hetice, a kind of cordial 


Worth ; worth up07t, gets tipon, B 1941. 


C306. 


Wrak, J. wreck, B 513. 


Y-prayed,//. bidden, invited, E 269. 


Wraw, adj. savage, fierce, angry, H 46. 


Y-preved, //. proved to be, A 485. 


Wreck, iinp. s. wreak, avenge, B 3095. 


Y-reke, //. spread about, A 3882. 


Wrenches, j. //. frauds, stratagems, tricks, G 


Yren, adj. iron, G 759. 


1081. 


Yren, .y, iron, G 827. 


Wroteth, pr. s. digs with the snout, I 157. 


Y-rent,//. rent, torn, B 844. 


Wyflecs, ad/, wifeless, E 1236. 


Y~schette, //. shut, B 560. 


Wyfly, adj. wifelike, E 429. 


Y-SCt,//. set down, F 173. 




Y-seylcd. //. sailed, B 4289. 


Y. 


Y-Shapen, //. shaped, contrived, G 1080. 




Y-Slawe, //. slain, B 484. 


Y-, prefix to past participles. See below. 


Y-Sprad,//. spread, B 1644. 


Y-blessed,//. blessed, H 99. 


Y-sprcyned, //. sprinkled, A 2169. 


Y-bleynt. //. blenched, started aside, A 3753. 


Y-stiked, //. stabbed, F 1476. 


Y-boren, //. born, C 704. 


Y-stonge, //. stung, C 355- 


Y-Chaped, having chapes or caps of metal at the 


Y-Storve,//. dead, A 2014. 


end of a sheath, A 366. 


Y-swepcd, //. swept, G 938. 


Y-clad,//. clothed, G 133. 


Yvel, adv. ill, E 460. 



\ ■ 



<^. 



%. 



^€ 



M ^ \^-^^ 






0^ c<^^^.^^ '^^^^ 
^0 



. \ ' 









^ ^o 



N C ^ %J 






•\ 


















,-^'^' 






^ , ^ . ^ ^A ^ ' ^ 












'.'% 






. * ^,!r^ 




^''^^ =>,^^^^^. 






^. ,^^ 



^ , -" '"/ .. s- V\ -^z '" • ^ "" ^^ 

^' ^■'^ A^ ' '^^ ^^ ^vV 
» c-t-W -' -f^ -TV 

^ ^ ^ -^ " "X ^ '^^ -y _; Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 

<^ ^ ' -^ V Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 

•i ^ 't- -. ,0 o Treatment Date: Feb. 2009 

,# "^^^'^^r^.^'\o'^ -^6^ PreservationTechnologies 

^ *. "^ * '^ /^ '^> " ' ^ O^ ^ ^ "''/•/ '^r * *°'"-° '•"°^'' '" COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

r ($3 ^ ' . «~^' '^ ^'^^'^^^t, ^ 111 Thomson Park Drive 

'^ r^.r-'^^^ K< c!'^ ■*" ^^r''*f\LJ^, « Cranberry Township, PA 16066 

" " "\, " (724)779-2111 

^ " _ 







w'\- 






, V ^ 



%'', 









.^0' 






^/. ' " ' .^ 



\Scr-'- 



^^ 



.^ -^*. 



<> V, 



A-^ 



^n .. , -/- '^ N 












?/ " ' > . ^ 












sOo 



-^0^ 



V 












,V' 



\^ 



. s .A 









0-- • '^ " ' 






^w 



';:^^' 






^<^ 



%: 


















^^ A^^' 



^:n ..^' 



